Shloka 22
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
अजय्यान् पाण्डवान् मन्ये द्रोणेनास्त्रविदा मृथे । तथा होनमततिक्रम्य प्रविष्ट: श्वेतवाहन:,मैं तो ऐसा मानता हूँ कि अस्त्रवेत्ता होनेपर भी द्रोण युद्धमें पाण्डवोंको नहीं जीत सकते, तभी तो उन्हें लाँधकर श्वेतवाहन अर्जुन व्यूहमें घुस गये
ajayyān pāṇḍavān manye droṇenāstravidā mṛdhe | tathā honamatatikramya praviṣṭaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ ||
Aku menilai para Pāṇḍava tak terkalahkan di medan perang bahkan oleh Droṇa, meski ia mahir dalam ilmu senjata. Itulah sebabnya Śvetavāhana (Arjuna), setelah melampauinya, telah memasuki formasi perang.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights sober appraisal in warfare: even the greatest teacher-warrior (Droṇa) may be unable to overcome opponents protected by skill, unity, and destiny; strategic decisions must be grounded in realistic judgment rather than prestige.
Karna comments on the battlefield situation: he judges the Pāṇḍavas too formidable for Droṇa to defeat, and notes that Arjuna—called Śvetavāhana—has pushed past Droṇa and penetrated the enemy formation (vyūha).