Shloka 21
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
कर्णो हि समरे शक्तो जेतुं देवान् सवासवान्
karṇo hi samare śakto jetuṃ devān savāsavān
Sañjaya dit : Au combat, Karṇa est véritablement capable de vaincre même les dieux—Indra compris. Ce vers souligne la redoutable puissance guerrière de Karṇa comme élément du calcul moral et stratégique de la guerre, où la prouesse peut sembler rivaliser avec l’ordre divin.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary human prowess can seem to challenge even divine forces, prompting reflection on the ethical tension in war: strength and skill do not automatically confer righteousness, yet they heavily influence outcomes and decisions.
Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizes Karṇa’s battlefield capability—so great that he could defeat even the gods, including Indra—thereby stressing Karṇa’s importance as a decisive warrior in the unfolding conflict.