Shloka 26
अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle
फिर सात्यकिने भी लौटकर कर्णको तीखे बाणोंसे घायल करके पुनः उसे एक सौ निन्यानबे भयंकर बाण मारे ।।
tataḥ sātyakine bhūyaḥ pratyāgatya karṇam iṣubhis tīkṣṇair viddhvā punar enam ekonaviṃśatiśataṃ ghorān bāṇān avākirat | tataḥ pravīrāḥ pārthānāṃ sarve karṇam apīḍayan | yudhāmanyuḥ śikhaṇḍī ca draupadeyāḥ prabhadrakāḥ | uttamaujā yuyutsuś ca nakulaḥ sahadeva eva ca | dhṛṣṭadyumno 'tha cedyāś ca kārūṣā matsyakekayāḥ | balavāṃś cekitānaś ca dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | ete rathāś ca aśvārohā gajārohāḥ padātayaḥ | raṇe karṇaṃ samantād ghorair astrāṇi śastrāṇi ca varṣayām āsuḥ | bhīṣaṇāni vacāṃsi bruvāṇāḥ karṇavadhaṃ niścitya tasthuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Sātyaki, turning back once more, wounded Karṇa with sharp arrows and then showered him again with one hundred and nineteen dreadful shafts. Thereupon all the foremost warriors on the side of the sons of Pāṇḍu pressed Karṇa hard—Yudhāmanyu, Śikhaṇḍin, the five sons of Draupadī, the Prabhadrakas, Uttamaujā, Yuyutsu, Nakula and Sahadeva, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Cedis, the Kārūṣas, and the forces of the Matsyas and Kekayas, along with the mighty Cekitāna and Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, steadfast in his vows. Charioteers, horsemen, elephant-riders, and foot-soldiers encircled Karṇa on every side on the battlefield and rained upon him diverse weapons and missiles. Speaking fierce words, they stood resolved upon Karṇa’s death.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how war amplifies collective resolve and hostility: many warriors unite to bring down a single powerful opponent. Ethically, it shows the tension between kṣatriya-duty (ending a dangerous enemy to protect one’s side) and the hardening of intention—‘having resolved to kill’—which can eclipse compassion and restraint even among dharma-minded leaders.
Sātyaki turns back to re-engage Karṇa, wounds him with sharp arrows, and follows with a heavy volley. Then leading Pāṇḍava-aligned heroes and allied contingents—named one by one—surround Karṇa from all sides and shower him with various weapons, declaring fierce words and standing determined on his death.