Shloka 34
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
तैरल्पैर्बहवो यूय॑ क्षयं नीता: प्रहारिण: । शड्के दैवस्य तत् कर्म पौरुषं येन नाशितम्,तथापि उन अल्पसंख्यकोंने तुम बहुसंख्यक योद्धाओंको क्षीण कर दिया। मैं समझता हूँ, वह दैवका ही कर्म है; जिसने तुम्हारे पुरुषार्थका नाश कर दिया है
tair alpair bahavo yūyaṁ kṣayaṁ nītāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | śaṅke daivasya tat karma pauruṣaṁ yena nāśitam ||
Karna berkata: “Oleh mereka yang sedikit itu, banyak dari kalian—para pemukul dan penyerang—telah dibawa menuju kebinasaan. Aku menduga ini adalah pekerjaan takdir; olehnya daya upaya dan keperkasaan manusia kalian dipatahkan dan dibuat sia-sia.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts pauruṣa (human effort and valor) with daiva (fate/divine dispensation), suggesting that even strong martial prowess can be overturned when destiny turns adverse.
Karna addresses the opposing side (or his interlocutors) noting that a small force has inflicted heavy losses on a larger body of warriors, and he interprets this reversal as the working of fate that has undermined their effectiveness.