Shloka 21
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
हताश्वात्तु ततो यानादवप्लुत्य महारथ: । शक्तिं चिक्षेप कर्णाय संक्रुद्ध:ः शत्रुतापन:,उस अश्वहीन रथसे कूदकर कुपित हुए शत्रुसंतापी महारथी शिखण्डीने कर्णपर शक्ति चलायी
hatāśvāt tu tato yānād avaplutya mahārathaḥ | śaktiṃ cikṣepa karṇāya saṃkruddhaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ ||
Then, when his horses had been slain, the great chariot-warrior leapt down from his chariot. Burning with anger, a scourge to his foes, he hurled a spear (śakti) at Karṇa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic under kṣatriya-dharma: even when disadvantaged (horses slain), a fighter persists. It also cautions that anger (saṃkruddhaḥ) can intensify violence, shaping choices and consequences on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports that after his horses were killed, the great warrior jumped down from his chariot and, in fury, hurled a śakti (spear/javelin) at Karṇa.