Shloka 16
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
हतवीरमिदं सैन्यं पाण्डवै: समरे विभो । कर्णो होको महाबाहुरस्मत्प्रियहिते रत:,'प्रभो! पाण्डवोंने समरांगणमें मेरी सेनाके प्रमुख वीरोंको मार डाला है। एक महाबाहु कर्ण ही ऐसा है, जो हमारे प्रिय एवं हितसाधनमें लगा हुआ है
hatavīram idaṁ sainyaṁ pāṇḍavaiḥ samare vibho | karṇo hy eko mahābāhur asmatpriyahite rataḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «Oh señor poderoso, en la batalla los Pāṇḍavas han despojado a este ejército de sus héroes principales. Sólo queda Karṇa, el guerrero de grandes brazos, firme y entregado a lo que nos es querido y beneficioso.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: when many leaders fall, a kingdom clings to a single champion. It underscores loyalty and duty to one’s side, while implicitly revealing the fragility of power that depends on individual prowess rather than righteous policy.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas have slain the Kauravas’ principal warriors, leaving Karṇa as the lone great fighter still actively committed to advancing what the Kauravas consider their interest.