Shloka 89
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
(राजानं च महाबाहुं पीडयन्त्यात्तमन्यव: । राधेयो बहुभि: सार्थमसौ गच्छति वेगत: ।।
rājānaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ pīḍayanty āttamanyavaḥ | rādheyo bahubhiḥ sārtham asau gacchati vegataḥ || varjayitvā tu bhīmaṃ taṃ pārśvato hānayan dhanuḥ | taṃ pālayan mahārājaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ balānvitaḥ ||
Sañjaya dijo: Las tropas de los Pāṇḍava, poseídas por la ira, apremiaban con dureza al rey Duryodhana, de poderosos brazos, y le causaban aflicción. Al verlo, Rādheya (Karna), fuerte y resuelto, se lanzó veloz hacia él con muchos guerreros, llevando el arco al costado; dejando deliberadamente a Bhīma aparte, avanzó para proteger al rey Dhārtarāṣṭra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds battlefield dharma as understood by warriors: protection of one’s king and ally is treated as a paramount obligation. Karna’s choice to set aside a direct engagement with Bhīma and instead rush to defend Duryodhana illustrates loyalty and prioritization of duty amid personal enmities.
The Pāṇḍava forces, enraged, are overwhelming and distressing Duryodhana. Karna, accompanied by many fighters, hastens toward Duryodhana to guard him, keeping his bow ready, and intentionally does not engage Bhīma at that moment.