Shloka 6
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
समासाद्य तु राजानं दुर्योधनहितेप्सया । सूतपुत्रस्त्रिभिस्ती&णैरविव्याध परमेषुभि:,उस समय वीर युधिष्ठिर बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत होकर अचेत-से हो रहे थे और नकुल- सहदेवके बीचमें होकर धीरे-धीरे छावनीकी ओर जा रहे थे। उस अवस्थामें राजा युधिष्ठिरके पास पहुँचकर सूतपुत्र कर्णने दुर्योधनके हितकी इच्छासे परम उत्तम तीन तीखे बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें पुन: घायल कर दिया
samāsādya tu rājānaṃ duryodhana-hitepsayā | sūtaputras tribhis tīkṣṇair avivyādha paramaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Approaching the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) with the intent to secure Duryodhana’s advantage, Karṇa—the charioteer’s son—pierced him again with three supremely sharp arrows.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between personal compassion and battlefield duty: Karṇa acts from allegiance to Duryodhana and the strategic demands of war, illustrating how kṣatriya conduct can prioritize victory and loyalty even when the opponent is already wounded.
As Yudhiṣṭhira is retreating in a weakened state, Karṇa reaches him and, seeking Duryodhana’s advantage, strikes him again with three exceptionally sharp arrows.