Shloka 12
अौर्ध्वदेहिक-श्राद्धे दानयज्ञविस्तारः | Expansion of the Aurdhvadehika Śrāddha and the Donation-Rite
अभिमन्योश्व बालस्य विनाशं रणमूर्थनि । कर्णस्य च महाबाहो संग्रामेष्वपलायिन:
abhimanyor va bālasya vināśaṃ raṇamūrdhani | karṇasya ca mahābāho saṃgrāmeṣv apalāyinaḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśaṃpāyana: “¡Oh Janamejaya, de brazos poderosos! Al recordar la ruina del joven Abhimanyu en la misma vanguardia de la batalla—un acto marcado por la injusticia—y también la muerte de Karṇa, el de brazos poderosos que jamás dio la espalda en la guerra (abatido cuando estaba en desventaja y sin ser debidamente reconocido), se agitaban por dentro y no hallaban reposo, atormentados por el peso moral de aquellos hechos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how violations of dharma in warfare—especially the killing of a young warrior by unfair means and the slaying of a steadfast fighter in a compromised moment—leave lasting moral anguish. Even after victory, the conscience remains troubled when ethical boundaries are crossed.
Vaiśaṃpāyana recounts that the survivors (in the Ashramavāsika context) repeatedly recall two painful war episodes: Abhimanyu’s destruction at the battle-front and Karṇa’s death despite his reputation for never retreating. These memories make them restless and distressed.