Shloka 846
द्रोणकर्णयोः निशि संप्रहारः — Night Engagement with Droṇa and Karṇa
अश्वत्थामा महाराज भूयो<र्जुनमयोधयत् । महाराज! कर्णको इस प्रकार रथहीन हुआ देख अश्व॒त्थामाने उस समय उसे रथपर बैठा लिया और वह पुन: अर्जुनके साथ युद्ध करने लगा
sañjaya uvāca | aśvatthāmā mahārāja bhūyo 'rjunam ayodhayat | mahārāja! karṇako 'smin prakāreṇa rathahīnaṃ bhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā aśvatthāmā tadā taṃ rathopari upāveśayat, sa punaḥ arjunena saha yuddhaṃ kartum ārabdhavān |
Sañjaya said: “O King, Ashvatthama once again engaged Arjuna in battle. Seeing Karna thus deprived of his chariot, Ashvatthama at that moment took him up onto his own chariot; and Karna resumed the fight alongside him against Arjuna.” The episode highlights the battlefield ethic of not abandoning an ally in distress, even amid relentless and escalating violence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, loyalty and responsibility toward one’s ally are treated as a form of kshatriya conduct: Ashvatthama does not abandon Karna when he becomes chariotless, but restores his capacity to fight by giving him support.
Ashvatthama renews combat with Arjuna. When Karna is seen without a chariot, Ashvatthama seats him on his own chariot, and Karna returns to the fight together with him against Arjuna.