Shloka 28
कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement
तदुद्धूतं बल॑ दृष्टवा नागाश्वरथपत्तिमत् । भीम: कर्ण समासाद्य च्छादयामास सायकै:,हाथी, घोड़े, रथ और पैदलोंसे युक्त उस सेनाको विकद्षुब्ध हुई देख भीमसेनने कर्णके पास जाकर उसे बाणोंद्वारा आच्छादित कर दिया
tad uddhūtaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā nāgāśvarathapattimat | bhīmaḥ karṇaṃ samāsādya cchādayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing that army thrown into turmoil—abounding in elephants, horses, chariots, and foot-soldiers—Bhīmasena closed in upon Karṇa and covered him with a dense shower of arrows.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the battlefield setting of the Mahābhārata, the verse highlights kṣatriya resolve and tactical decisiveness: when forces are shaken, a warrior restores advantage by directly engaging the key opponent, applying sustained pressure rather than hesitation.
Sañjaya reports that the army, filled with elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, has become disturbed; Bhīma advances straight to Karṇa and overwhelms him with a rapid volley of arrows, effectively ‘covering’ him.