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Shloka 28

कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62

परित्राह्ोनमभ्येत्य संशयं परमं गतम्‌

paritrāhoṇam abhyetya saṁśayaṁ paramaṁ gatam

Sañjaya said: Having approached the one in need of rescue, he was seized by the utmost doubt—caught between the urgent demand to protect and the perilous uncertainty of what must be done amid the chaos of war.

परित्राणम्protection, rescue
परित्राणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपरित्राण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अभ्येत्यhaving approached, coming near
अभ्येत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-इ (ए)
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
संशयम्doubt, uncertainty
संशयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंशय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
परमम्supreme, utmost
परमम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
गतम्gone to, reached
गतम्:
TypeVerb
Rootगम्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

संजय (Sañjaya)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how, in extreme situations like battle, even the impulse to protect can be accompanied by profound doubt; it foregrounds the ethical tension between immediate compassion/protection and uncertain consequences.

Sañjaya reports that someone approaches a person needing rescue or protection, but upon arriving is overwhelmed by intense uncertainty—suggesting a critical, peril-filled moment where the right course of action is unclear.