Shloka 28
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
यथा सर्वास्ववस्थासु वार्ष्णेय: पाति पाण्डवम् | तथा भवान् परित्रातुं कर्ण वैकर्तनं रणे,'जैसे श्रीकृष्ण सभी अवस्थाओंमें पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनकी रक्षा करते हैं, उसी प्रकार आप रणभूमिमें वैकर्तन कर्णकी रक्षा करें
yathā sarvāsv avasthāsu vārṣṇeyaḥ pāti pāṇḍavam | tathā bhavān paritrātuṃ karṇa vaikartanaṃ raṇe ||
Sebagaimana Vārṣṇeya (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) melindungi sang Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) dalam segala keadaan, demikian pula hendaknya engkau, di medan perang, melindungi Karṇa, Vaikartana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and strategic importance of steadfast protection in warfare: as Kṛṣṇa’s constant guardianship sustains Arjuna, so a comparable protective commitment is invoked for Karṇa. It implies that success in dharmic conflict depends not only on individual valor but also on loyal support and vigilant safeguarding.
Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, draws a comparison: Kṛṣṇa continually protects Arjuna, and likewise someone is urged (addressed as ‘bhavān’) to protect Karṇa (Vaikartana) in the battle. The statement frames Karṇa’s peril and the need for reliable support amid the escalating combat.