Shloka 15
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
राधेय: पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ शक्त: पीडयितुं रणे | सहितो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रै: शरैर्महाबलै:
rādheyaḥ pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ śaktaḥ pīḍayituṃ raṇe | sahito dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putraiḥ śarair mahābalaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Rādheya (Karna), supported by the mighty sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and their powerful volleys of arrows, is capable on the battlefield of grievously afflicting the foremost of the Pāṇḍavas—Yudhiṣṭhira.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield outcomes are shaped not only by an individual hero’s prowess but also by collective support and coordinated force. Ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension: even the ‘foremost’ and dharma-aligned can be pressured when power, numbers, and strategy converge against them.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna, aided by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and their strong arrow-attacks, has the capacity to harass and wound Yudhiṣṭhira in the ongoing battle—framing Karna as a serious threat when backed by the Kaurava host.