Shloka 16
दुर्योधन–द्रोणसंवादः
Arjuna-vīrya-prasaṃśā and renewed battle formation
ह्वियमाणे तदा कर्ण गन्धर्वर्धृतराष्ट्रजे । तदायुध्यन्त सैन्यानि त्वमेको5ग्रेडपलायिथा:,“कर्ण! याद है कि नहीं, जब गन्धर्व दुर्योधनको पकड़कर लिये जा रहे थे, उस समय सारी सेना तो युद्ध कर रही थी और अकेले तुम ही सबसे पहले पलायन कर गये थे
hviyamāṇe tadā karṇa gandharvair dhṛtarāṣṭraje | tadā yudhyanta sainyāni tvam eko 'gre 'palāyithāḥ ||
Sanjaya said: “Karna, do you remember that time when Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, was being carried off by the Gandharvas? While the rest of the army was engaged in fighting, you alone were the first to flee from the front.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kshatriya-dharma: a leader’s obligation is to protect allies and face danger steadfastly. Fleeing first in a crisis is portrayed as ethically blameworthy because it abandons comrades and undermines collective duty.
Sanjaya recalls an earlier incident: when Gandharvas seized and carried off Duryodhana, the troops were fighting, but Karna is accused of being the first to retreat. The recollection is used as a pointed criticism of Karna’s conduct and reliability in moments of peril.