Shloka 21
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
चेदिकेकयपाञ्चाला यमौ मत्स्याश्न दंशिता: । समभ्यधावन् राधेयं जिघांसन्त: प्रहारिणम्
sañjaya uvāca |
cedikekayapāñcālā yamau matsyāś ca daṃśitāḥ |
samabhyadhāvan rādhēyaṃ jighāṃsantaḥ prahāriṇam ||
Sañjaya said: The Cedis, the Kekayas, and the Pāñcālas—together with the twin sons of Mādrī and the Matsya warriors, all armed and arrayed—rushed straight at Rādheya (Karna), intent on killing that formidable striker.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic often seen in the Mahābhārata: when a single warrior becomes a decisive threat, opposing forces may unite to restrain or eliminate him. It raises the tension between ideal single-combat norms and pragmatic duty to protect one’s side.
Sañjaya reports that multiple allied contingents—Cedi, Kekaya, Pāñcāla, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and Matsya troops—charge together at Karna, determined to kill him, recognizing him as a major offensive force in the battle.