Shloka 40
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
स दृष्टवा प्रद्रुतां सेनां धार्तराष्ट्रस्य सूतज: । निवारयामास बलादनुसूृत्य विशाम्पते,प्रजानाथ! दुर्योधनकी सेनाको भागती देख सूतपुत्र कर्णने बलपूर्वक पीछा करके उसे रोका
sa dṛṣṭvā pradrutāṃ senāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrasya sūtajaḥ | nivārayāmāsa balād anusṛtya viśāmpate prajānātha ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Dhārtarāṣṭra army in flight, Karṇa—the charioteer’s son—pursued them and, by force, checked their retreat, O lord of the people, protector of subjects.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid a morally compromised war, a leader’s immediate battlefield dharma includes preventing rout, restoring discipline, and protecting the collective from the cascading harm caused by fear and disorder.
Karna sees the Kaurava (Dhārtarāṣṭra) troops fleeing. He pursues them and forcibly halts their retreat, attempting to re-form the line and keep Duryodhana’s side from collapsing.