Shloka 7
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
तथैव राजा राधेयं प्रत्यविध्यत् स्तनान्तरे । शरैस्त्रिभिश्व यन्तारं चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान्,इसी प्रकार राजा युधिष्ठिरने भी राधापुत्र कर्णकी छातीमें गहरी चोट पहुँचायी। फिर तीन बाणोंसे सारथिको और चारसे चारों घोड़ोंको घायल कर दिया
tathaiva rājā rādheyaṁ pratyavidhyat stanāntare | śarais tribhiś ca yantāraṁ caturbhiś caturō hayān ||
Sañjaya said: In the same manner, the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) struck Rādheya (Karna) in the region of the chest with a deep, piercing hit. Then, with three arrows he wounded the charioteer, and with four more he struck the four horses.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a hard-edged dimension of kṣatriya conduct in war: effectiveness often comes from disabling the opponent’s means of fighting (charioteer and horses) as well as confronting the warrior directly. It invites reflection on how dharma in battle can involve strategic necessity while still raising ethical tension about targeting supporting agents.
During the battle, Yudhiṣṭhira shoots Karna in the chest. He then follows up by striking Karna’s charioteer with three arrows and wounding the four horses with four arrows, aiming to weaken Karna’s mobility and control of the chariot.