Shloka 45
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
'शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले कुन्तीकुमार! वह देखो, तुम्हारे वानरध्वजको देखकर समरमें तुम्हारे साथ द्वैरथ युद्ध चाहता हुआ राधापुत्र कर्ण इधर लौट पड़ा है ।।
śatrūn ko santāpa denevāle kuntīkumāra! vaha dekho, tumhāre vānaradhvajako dekhakara samare meṁ tumhāre sātha dvairatha-yuddha cāhatā huā rādhāputra karṇa idhara lauṭa paṛā hai. vadhāya cātmano 'śabhyeti dīptāsyaṁ śalabho yathā. karṇam ekākinaṁ dṛṣṭvā rathānīkena bhārata.
Sañjaya dijo: «Oh hijo de Kuntī, tormento de los enemigos: ¡mira! Al ver tu estandarte del mono, Karna, hijo de Rādhā, ha vuelto por este lado, deseando un duelo directo de carro contra carro contigo en la batalla. Se precipita hacia su propia muerte, como la polilla que vuela a la llama ardiente. Oh Bhārata, al ver a Karna solo, (se halla) frente a una compacta formación de carros.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how overpowering resolve mixed with pride can become self-destructive: Karna, stirred by Arjuna’s emblem and the call of single combat, advances as if drawn to inevitable death—like a moth to flame—highlighting the ethical tension between warrior duty and reckless overconfidence.
Sanjaya reports to the Kuru king that Karna, seeing Arjuna’s monkey-banner, turns back toward him seeking a direct chariot duel. The narration frames Karna’s advance as ominous and perilous, and notes that Karna is seen standing alone against a larger chariot array.