Shloka 513
असम्भ्रान्तो रणे कर्ण: प्रत्युदीयाद् धनंजयम् । संजयने कहा--राजन्! जैसे एक हाथीको आते देख दूसरा हाथी उसका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़े, उसी प्रकार पाण्डुपुत्र धनंजयको आते देख कर्ण बिना किसी घबराहटके युद्धमें उनका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़ा
asaṁbhrānto raṇe karṇaḥ pratyudīyād dhanañjayam |
Sañjaya said: O King, Karṇa, unshaken amid the battle, advanced to meet Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). As one elephant, seeing another approach, moves forward to confront it, so Karṇa—without fear or confusion—went forth to face the son of Pāṇḍu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights mental steadiness (asaṁbhrānta) as a hallmark of martial valor: composure in crisis is praised, though the narrative also implicitly raises the ethical tension that such steadiness can serve either righteous or destructive aims depending on one’s allegiance and purpose.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa, seeing Arjuna approach, does not waver; he advances to meet him in battle, likened to one elephant moving forward to confront another.