Shloka 16
कर्णसेनापत्यारम्भः — Karṇa’s Appointment and the Report to Dhṛtarāṣṭra
Chapter 1
ततः शत्रुक्षयं कृत्वा सुमहान्तं रणे वृष: । पश्यतां धार्तराष्ट्राणां फाल्गुनेन निपातित:
tataḥ śatrukṣayaṃ kṛtvā sumahāntaṃ raṇe vṛṣaḥ | paśyatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ phālgunena nipātitaḥ ||
Alors ce guerrier, pareil à un taureau, après avoir causé dans la bataille un immense carnage parmi les ennemis, fut abattu par Phālguna (Arjuna) sous les yeux mêmes des Dhārtarāṣṭra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of warfare: even a celebrated hero who causes massive enemy losses can be brought down, and such a fall—witnessed by one’s own side—serves as a moral and strategic warning about the limits of mere martial prowess and the consequences of aligning with adharma.
After inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy in the midst of battle, a bull-like (foremost) warrior is felled by Phālguna (Arjuna) in full view of the Dhārtarāṣṭras (the Kaurava forces).