Shloka 22
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
अजय्यान् पाण्डवान् मन्ये द्रोणेनास्त्रविदा मृथे । तथा होनमततिक्रम्य प्रविष्ट: श्वेतवाहन:,मैं तो ऐसा मानता हूँ कि अस्त्रवेत्ता होनेपर भी द्रोण युद्धमें पाण्डवोंको नहीं जीत सकते, तभी तो उन्हें लाँधकर श्वेतवाहन अर्जुन व्यूहमें घुस गये
ajayyān pāṇḍavān manye droṇenāstravidā mṛdhe | tathā honamatatikramya praviṣṭaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ ||
Karna said: “I deem the Pāṇḍavas unconquerable in battle even by Droṇa, though he is a master of weapons. That is why Śvetavāhana (Arjuna), overstepping him, has entered the battle-formation.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights sober appraisal in warfare: even the greatest teacher-warrior (Droṇa) may be unable to overcome opponents protected by skill, unity, and destiny; strategic decisions must be grounded in realistic judgment rather than prestige.
Karna comments on the battlefield situation: he judges the Pāṇḍavas too formidable for Droṇa to defeat, and notes that Arjuna—called Śvetavāhana—has pushed past Droṇa and penetrated the enemy formation (vyūha).