Shloka 9
द्राव्यमाणं बल॑ दृष्टवा भीमसेनेन धीमता । यन्तारमब्रवीत् कर्ण: पञज्चालानेव मां वह,बुद्धिमान भीमसेनके द्वारा कौरव-सेनाको भगायी जाती देख रथी कर्णने सारथि शल्यसे कहा--“मुझे पांचालोंकी ओर ही ले चलो”
drāvyamāṇaṃ balaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenena dhīmatā | yantāram abravīt karṇaḥ pañcālān eva māṃ vaha ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Kaurava forces being driven into flight by the wise Bhīmasena, Karṇa spoke to his charioteer Śalya: “Drive me straight toward the Pāñcālas.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a crisis, a leader grounded in kṣatriya-duty chooses steadfast action over panic: Karṇa responds to the army’s rout by turning toward the enemy, aiming to reassert order and honor through courageous engagement.
Bhīmasena is driving the Kaurava troops into retreat. Observing this, Karṇa instructs his charioteer Śalya to steer directly toward the Pāñcālas, signaling his intent to confront them and counter the collapse on his side.