Shloka 17
कर्णसेनापत्यारम्भः — Karṇa’s Appointment and the Report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Chapter 1
उस युद्धमें शत्रुओंका महान् संहार करके कर्ण धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंक देखते-देखते अर्जुनके हाथसे मारा गया ।।
vaishampāyana uvāca | tasmin yuddhe śatrūṇāṁ mahān saṁhāraṁ kṛtvā karṇaḥ dhṛtarāṣṭraputrāṇāṁ paśyatāṁ paśyatām arjunena hastena hataḥ || tataḥ tu sañjayaḥ sarvaṁ jñātvā nāgapuraṁ drutam gatvā dhṛtarāṣṭrāya ācacakṣe yad vṛttaṁ kurujaṅgale ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In that battle, after causing a great slaughter of enemies, Karṇa was slain by Arjuna’s hand, even as the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra looked on. Thereafter Sañjaya, having learned everything, hurried to Nāgapura (Hastināpura) and reported to Dhṛtarāṣṭra all that had occurred in Kurujāṅgala (the Kurukṣetra region).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the mightiest warrior, after inflicting vast destruction, is subject to mortality and consequence; and rulers must ultimately confront the truth of outcomes—Sañjaya’s report symbolizes accountability and the unavoidable reckoning produced by adharma-driven war.
Karna, after a great slaughter in battle, is killed by Arjuna in the sight of the Kauravas. Sañjaya then rushes to Hastināpura (called Nāgapura here) and narrates to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra everything that happened in the Kurukṣetra region (Kurujāṅgala).