Shloka 92
स कर्णमाकर्णविकृष्टसूष्टै: शरै: शरीरान्तकरैज्वलडद्धि: | मर्मस्वविध्यत् स चचाल दुःखाद् दैवादवातिष्ठत धैर्यबुद्धिः
sa karṇam ākarṇa-vikṛṣṭa-sūṣṭaiḥ śaraiḥ śarīrānta-karair jvaladbhīḥ | marmasv avidhyat sa cacāla duḥkhād daivād avātiṣṭhata dhairya-buddhiḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Avec des flèches flamboyantes, tirées jusqu’à l’oreille et lâchées de toute sa force—des traits capables d’ôter la vie—il frappa Karṇa en ses points vitaux, lui infligeant de profondes blessures. Karṇa chancela sous la douleur ; pourtant, rassemblant la fermeté de son esprit et retenu par le tour du destin, il demeura debout sur le champ de bataille.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣātra-dharma as endurance under suffering: even when struck in vital points and shaken by pain, a warrior is portrayed as regaining dhairya (steadfastness). It also frames human effort within daiva (the turn of fate), suggesting that perseverance and destiny together shape outcomes.
In Sañjaya’s report, Karṇa is hit by fully drawn, blazing, deadly arrows that pierce his vital spots. He staggers from the pain but, mustering courage and steadiness of mind, continues to hold his ground in the battle.