Shloka 35
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
जैसे देवासुर-संग्राममें दानवोंके साथ इन्द्रका युद्ध हुआ था, उसी प्रकार घात- प्रतिघातकी इच्छावाले राजाओं तथा कर्णका वह युद्ध बड़ा भयंकर हो रहा था ।। तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम सूतपुत्रस्य लाघवम् । यदेनं सर्वतो यत्ता नाप्लुवन्ति परे युधि
yathā devāsura-saṅgrāme dānavaiḥ saha indrasya yuddham abhavat, tathā ghāta-pratighāta-icchāvataḥ rājñāṁ tathā karṇasya ca tad yuddhaṁ mahā-bhayaṅkaraṁ babhūva. tatrādbhutam apaśyāma sūtaputrasya lāghavam; yad enaṁ sarvato yattā nāpluvanti pare yudhi.
Sanjaya said: Just as, in the ancient war between gods and asuras, Indra fought the Dānavas, so too this battle became exceedingly dreadful—kings on every side driven by the desire to strike and counterstrike, and Karna meeting them in relentless combat. There we witnessed something astonishing: the swiftness of the charioteer’s son. Though the enemy pressed him from all directions, they could not overwhelm him in the fight.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare, once driven by the urge for blow and counterblow, rapidly intensifies into a terrifying cycle. Against that backdrop, it also shows how extraordinary skill and composure can prevent collapse even when one is surrounded—raising an ethical contrast between uncontrolled retaliation and disciplined mastery in battle.
Sanjaya compares the present clash to the mythic devas–asuras war: many kings press in from all sides, yet Karṇa’s agility and battlefield skill appear wondrous, because the opposing warriors cannot overpower him despite their concerted attack.