Shloka 11
राजसिंह! इस प्रकार जब वह भयंकर घमासान युद्ध चलने लगा और धृष्टद्युम्नका पुत्र मारा गया, तब भगवान् श्रीकृष्णने वहाँ अर्जुनसे कहा--'पार्थ! कर्ण पांचालोंका संहार कर रहा है, अत: आगे बढ़ो और उसे मार डालो” ।। ततः प्रहस्याशु नरप्रवीरो रथं रथेनाधिरथेर्जगाम । भये तेषां त्राणमिच्छन् सुबाहु- रभ्याहतानां रथयूथपेन,तदनन्तर सुन्दर भुजाओंवाले नरवीर अर्जुन हँसकर भयके अवसरपर उन घायल सैनिकोंकी रक्षाके लिये रथसमूहोंके अधिपति विशाल रथके द्वारा सूतपुत्रके रथकी ओर शीघ्रतापूर्वक आगे बढ़े
tataḥ prahasyāśu narapravīro rathaṃ rathenādhirather jagāma | bhaye teṣāṃ trāṇam icchan subāhur abhyāhatānāṃ rathayūthapena ||
Sanjaya said: Then the foremost of men, Arjuna of mighty arms, smiling, swiftly drove his chariot toward Karna’s chariot. Seeking to protect those troops who had been struck down and thrown into fear, he advanced with his great chariot as the leader of a chariot-squadron—answering slaughter with guardianship and meeting violence with resolute duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid a destructive battle, the warrior’s dharma is not mere aggression but protection: Arjuna advances to check Karna’s onslaught and to rescue frightened, wounded allies. The verse frames righteous force as a shield for those in peril, guided by leadership and steadiness rather than panic.
After Karna’s fierce attack creates fear and casualties among the Panchala side, Arjuna—described as smiling and swift—drives his chariot directly toward Karna’s chariot. He does so as the leader of a chariot-division, intending to provide immediate protection to the battered troops by confronting the principal threat.