Shloka 9
भीष्मपातने कर्णविलापः | Karṇa’s Lament upon Seeing Bhīṣma Fallen
अभिवाद्याज्जलिं बद्ध्वा वन्दमानो5भ्यभाषत | उस युद्धस्थलमें भीष्मका गिराया जाना समस्त सैनिकोंको मोहमें डालनेवाला था। आपके ज्येष्ठ पिता महान व्रतधारी भीष्म समस्त सैनिकोंमें श्रेष्ठ तथा सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंके शिरोमणि थे। वे अर्जुनके बाणोंसे व्याप्त होकर वीरशय्यापर सो रहे थे। उन भरतवंशी वीर पुरुषप्रवर भीष्मको उस अवस्थामें देखकर अधिरथपुत्र महातेजस्वी कर्ण अत्यन्त आर्त होकर रथसे उतर पड़ा और अंजलि बाँध अभिवादनपूर्वक प्रणाम करके आँसूसे गदगद वाणीमें इस प्रकार बोला-- || ६--८ $ || कर्णोडहमस्मि भद्रें ते वद मामभि भारत
sañjaya uvāca | abhivādya añjaliṃ baddhvā vandamāno 'bhyabhāṣata | karṇo 'ham asmi bhadraṃ te vada mām abhi bhārata ||
Sanjaya said: Having bowed in reverence, with his palms joined in añjali, and offering salutations, he addressed him: “I am Karna; blessings be upon you. Speak to me, O Bharata.” In the background of the battlefield, the fall of Bhishma—foremost among warriors and the crown-jewel of archers—casts the army into bewilderment. Seeing the great vow-keeper lying on his bed of arrows, Karna descends from his chariot, overwhelmed with grief and respect, and approaches with folded hands, his voice choked with tears—an ethical moment where even a fierce combatant pauses to honor seniority, vows, and martial excellence amid war’s chaos.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the midst of violent conflict, dharma expresses itself through restraint and reverence: honoring elders, acknowledging excellence, and approaching with humility. The verse frames Karna’s grief and respect as a moral counterpoint to the brutality of war.
After Bhishma has been brought down and lies on a bed of arrows, the army is shaken. Karna, distressed, steps down from his chariot, folds his hands in añjali, salutes, and begins to speak—introduced here by Sanjaya’s narration.