Shloka 24
शल्यपर्वणि प्रथमाध्यायः — Karṇa-vadha-anantaraṃ Śalya-niyogaḥ, Saṃjayasya Dhṛtarāṣṭra-nivedanam
तमेव चार्थ ध्यायन्तं कर्णस्य निधन प्रति । भरतश्रेष्ठ! वे निष्पाप नरेश अपनी पुत्रवधुओं, गान्धारी, विदुर तथा अन्य हितैषी सुहृदों एवं बन्धु-बान्धवोंद्वारा सब ओरसे घिरे हुए बैठे थे और कर्णके मारे जानेसे होनेवाले परिणामका चिन्तन कर रहे थे | २२-२३ $ ।।
tam eva cārthaṁ dhyāyantaṁ karṇasya nidhana-prati | bharataśreṣṭha! te niṣpāpa nareśāḥ sva-putra-vadhūbhiḥ gāndhāryā vidureṇa tathā anyaiḥ hitaiṣibhiḥ suhṛdbhiḥ bandhu-bāndhavair api sarvataḥ parivṛtā upaviṣṭāḥ karṇasya māraṇāt bhaviṣyat-phalaṁ cintayantaḥ || rudann evābravīd vākyaṁ rājānaṁ janamejaya | janamejaya! tasmin kāle sañjayaḥ khinna-citto ruditvā iva sandigdha-vāṇyā idam uvāca— “naravyāghra! bharataśreṣṭha! ahaṁ sañjayaḥ; te namas te” ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O best of the Bharatas! The blameless kings sat surrounded on every side by their daughters-in-law, by Gāndhārī, by Vidura, and by other well-wishing friends and kinsmen, reflecting on the consequences that would follow from Karṇa’s death. Then Sañjaya, his mind weighed down with grief, spoke to King Janamejaya as though weeping, in a voice unsteady with doubt: “O tiger among men, O best of the Bharatas! I am Sañjaya. Salutations to you.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of war: even a single hero’s death (Karṇa) triggers anxious reflection on cascading consequences. It also shows how grief destabilizes speech and judgment, reminding rulers and listeners that dharma requires sober consideration of outcomes, not merely victory.
After Karṇa’s fall, the royal household sits surrounded by family and trusted well-wishers, contemplating what his death will bring. In this atmosphere of mourning, Sañjaya—overcome with sorrow—addresses King Janamejaya, identifying himself and offering salutations, his voice wavering with distress.