Shloka 44
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
तथाप्यतिरथ: कर्णो भिद्यमानो5स्यथ सायकै:,भीमसेनके बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत होनेपर भी शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाला अतिरथी कर्ण समरभूमिमें कुपित भीमसेनको छोड़कर भागा नहीं
tathāpy atirathaḥ karṇo bhidyamāno ’syatha sāyakaiḥ; bhīmasenake bāṇoṃse kṣata-vikṣata honepar bhī śatrūnko santāpa denevālā atirathī karṇaḥ samarabhūmau kupitaṃ bhīmasenaṃ chōḍakara bhāgā na
Sañjaya dit : Malgré tout, Karṇa —l’atiratha, fameux pour accabler ses ennemis—, bien que transpercé et déchiré par les flèches de Bhīmasena, ne s’enfuit pas du champ de bataille en laissant derrière lui Bhīma en fureur. Au milieu des blessures et de la contrainte, il tint sa place, incarnant la résolution du guerrier : affronter un égal plutôt que déserter le combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: steadfast courage under injury and pressure, refusing to abandon a direct opponent in battle. Ethically, it frames valor as endurance and commitment to one’s martial duty, even when physically harmed.
During the Drona Parva fighting, Bhimasena strikes Karna with many arrows, leaving him wounded. Yet Karna, described as an atiratha who torments enemies, does not retreat from the battlefield or leave the enraged Bhima; he continues to stand and fight.