Shloka 673
मुज्चाभिविद्धयर्जुनमाशु कर्ण बाणै: पुरा हन्ति कुरून् समग्रान् । अर्जुनकी मार खाते हुए कौरव-सैनिक चारों ओरसे कर्णको पुकारने लगे--'कर्ण! शीघ्र बाण छोड़ो और अर्जुनको घायल कर डालो। कहीं ऐसा न हो कि ये पहले ही समस्त कौरवोंका वध कर डालें”
muñcābhividdhy arjunam āśu karṇa bāṇaiḥ purā hanti kurūn samagrān | arjunakī mār khāte hue kaurava-sainik cāroṃ or se karṇako pukārane lage—“karṇa! śīghra bāṇ chōṛo aur arjunako ghāyal kar ḍālo. kahīṃ aisā na ho ki ye pahale hī samasta kauravoṃkā vadha kar ḍāleṃ.”
Dijo Sañjaya: Mientras Arjuna los segaba, los soldados kauravas clamaron a Karṇa desde todos los flancos: «¡Karṇa, dispara pronto tus flechas y hiere a Arjuna! De lo contrario, puede que primero aniquile a todos los Kauravas». La escena revela el pánico de un ejército que se derrumba y su apremiante dependencia de un solo campeón para frenar el ímpetu devastador de Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of epic warfare, collective morale often hinges on exemplary leaders: when the many falter, they seek a protector who can restore balance on the battlefield. The verse highlights how fear and survival instincts drive soldiers to rely on a single dhanuṣmat (master archer) to counter overwhelming force.
Arjuna is inflicting heavy losses on the Kaurava ranks. Alarmed, the Kaurava soldiers urgently call upon Karṇa to immediately shoot and wound Arjuna, fearing that Arjuna will otherwise kill the entire Kaurava host.