Shloka 14
Somadatta’s Kṣātra-Dharma Accusation; Night Combat, Māyā, and the Fall of Ghaṭotkaca
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 131
ततस्तु सर्वयोधानां यततां प्रेक्षतां तदा । प्रावेपन्निव गात्राणि कर्णभीमसमागमे,उस समय कर्ण और भीमसेनके संघर्षमें विजयके लिये प्रयत्नशील होकर देखनेवाले सम्पूर्ण योद्धाओंके शरीर काँपने-से लगे
tatastu sarvayodhānāṁ yatatāṁ prekṣatāṁ tadā | prāvepanniva gātrāṇi karṇabhīmasamāgame ||
Sañjaya said: Then, as all the warriors strained for victory and watched intently, their limbs seemed to tremble when Karṇa and Bhīmasena closed in combat—so fearsome was the meeting of those two champions.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological and ethical weight of warfare: when great rivals meet, the entire army feels the shock. It suggests that violence driven by rivalry and the pursuit of victory can unsettle even the strong, reminding readers that martial glory carries fear, uncertainty, and grave consequences.
Sañjaya describes a pivotal moment on the battlefield: Karṇa and Bhīmasena come face to face in combat. As they engage, the surrounding warriors—eager for victory and watching closely—feel their bodies tremble, overwhelmed by the intensity of the duel.