Shloka 49
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
एतांश्चान्यांश्व॒ राजेन्द्र प्रवीराज्जयगृद्धिन: । अभ्यर्दयन्महेष्वास: कर्णपुत्रो विशाम्पते
etāṁścānyāṁś ca rājendra pravīrāj jayagṛddhinaḥ | abhyardayan maheṣvāsaḥ karṇaputro viśāmpate ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô roi, ce grand archer — le fils de Karṇa — pressa durement ceux-ci et d’autres guerriers d’élite, tous avides de victoire, et lança contre eux son assaut au cœur même de la mêlée.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of the kṣatriya: relentless exertion toward one’s chosen aim (here, victory). It also subtly warns that victory-lust (jaya-gṛddhi) can drive even great heroes into escalating violence, making intention as significant as prowess.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa’s son, the mighty archer Vṛṣasena, is forcefully attacking and pressing back multiple leading warriors who are themselves striving for victory.