Shloka 15
Karṇa-nidhana-śravaṇa, Kṣaya-Varṇana, and Śeṣa-sainika-nirdeśa
Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall, Accounting of Losses, and Naming of Remaining Warriors
एवमुक्तो5ब्रवीत् सूतो राजानं जनमेजय । हतो वैकर्तनो राजन् सह पुत्रर्महारथ:
evam ukto 'bravīt sūto rājānaṃ janamejaya | hato vaikartano rājan saha putraiḥ mahārathaḥ ||
ऐसा कहे जाने पर सूत ने राजा जनमेजय से कहा—राजन्! वैकर्तन कर्ण, वह महारथी, अपने पुत्रों सहित मारा गया।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the impermanence of power and the heavy cost of war: even a mahāratha like Karna falls, and the destruction extends to one’s lineage. It implicitly warns that martial glory cannot shield anyone from the consequences set in motion by a catastrophic, adharma-leaning conflict.
In response to a query, the sūta reports to King Janamejaya that Karna (called Vaikartana), a foremost warrior, has been killed, and that his sons too have perished.