Shloka 21
रथचिह्नवर्णनम् / Description of Chariot Standards and Allied Advances
निवृत्तो हि महाबाहुरमितौजा वृकोदर: । वरान् वरान् हि कौन्तेयो रथोदारान् हनिष्यति,अमिततेजस्वी महाबाहु कुन्तीपुत्र वृकोदर इधरकी ओर लौटे हैं। वे बड़े-बड़े उदार महारथियोंको चुन-चुनकर मारेंगे
nivṛtto hi mahābāhur amitaujā vṛkodaraḥ | varān varān hi kaunteyo rathodārān haniṣyati ||
Karna said: “Indeed, the mighty-armed Vṛkodara, of immeasurable prowess, has turned back toward this side. That son of Kuntī will now single out and strike down, one after another, the foremost and noble chariot-warriors.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: valor expressed as decisive action against worthy opponents. It also underscores the moral tension of war—greatness and nobility (udāratā) do not protect one from destruction when conflict is fully unleashed.
Karna observes that Bhīma (Vṛkodara), the son of Kuntī, has turned back toward their side of the field and is poised to target and kill prominent chariot-warriors selectively, indicating a renewed and focused assault.