Shloka 51
स वध्यमानो रक्षसा वै निशी्थे दृष्टवा राजंस्त्रास्यमानं बल॑ं च | महच्छुत्वा निनदं कौरवाणां मतिं दश्ने शक्तिमोक्षाय कर्ण:,राजन्! निशीथकालमें राक्षसके प्रहारसे घायल होते हुए कर्णने अपनी सेनाको भयभीत देख कौरवोंका महान् आर्तनाद सुनकर घटोत्कचपर शक्ति छोड़नेका निश्चय कर लिया
sa vadhyamāno rakṣasā vai niśīthe dṛṣṭvā rājan trāsyamānaṃ balaṃ ca | mahac chrutvā ninadaṃ kauravāṇāṃ matiṃ dadhne śaktimokṣāya karṇaḥ, rājan ||
Sañjaya said: Struck by the rākṣasa in the depth of night, Karṇa saw, O King, the army thrown into panic; and hearing the great tumult and anguished cry of the Kurus, he resolved, O King, to hurl his spear-weapon—deciding to discharge the Śakti against Ghaṭotkaca.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of epic warfare, leadership is tested when collective morale collapses: Karṇa’s resolve to expend a rare, decisive weapon is portrayed as a duty-driven response to protect his side from terror and disintegration, even though it carries strategic and fated consequences.
During the midnight fighting, Ghaṭotkaca (the rākṣasa) is inflicting heavy damage and spreading panic. Karṇa sees the Kaurava forces frightened and hears their great outcry; he therefore decides to release his Śakti spear-weapon against Ghaṭotkaca.