Shloka 89
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
(राजानं च महाबाहुं पीडयन्त्यात्तमन्यव: । राधेयो बहुभि: सार्थमसौ गच्छति वेगत: ।।
rājānaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ pīḍayanty āttamanyavaḥ | rādheyo bahubhiḥ sārtham asau gacchati vegataḥ || varjayitvā tu bhīmaṃ taṃ pārśvato hānayan dhanuḥ | taṃ pālayan mahārājaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ balānvitaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Les troupes des Pāṇḍava, saisies de colère, pressaient durement le roi Duryodhana aux bras puissants et le mettaient en détresse. Voyant cela, Rādheya (Karna), fort et résolu, accourut vers lui avec de nombreux guerriers, l’arc au côté ; délaissant délibérément Bhīma, il se porta à la défense du roi Dhārtarāṣṭra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds battlefield dharma as understood by warriors: protection of one’s king and ally is treated as a paramount obligation. Karna’s choice to set aside a direct engagement with Bhīma and instead rush to defend Duryodhana illustrates loyalty and prioritization of duty amid personal enmities.
The Pāṇḍava forces, enraged, are overwhelming and distressing Duryodhana. Karna, accompanied by many fighters, hastens toward Duryodhana to guard him, keeping his bow ready, and intentionally does not engage Bhīma at that moment.