Shloka 21
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
चेदिकेकयपाञ्चाला यमौ मत्स्याश्न दंशिता: । समभ्यधावन् राधेयं जिघांसन्त: प्रहारिणम्,उस समय प्रहार करनेवाले राधापुत्र कर्णको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे धृष्टद्युम्न, सात्यकि, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, भीमसेन, जनमेजय, शिखण्डी, प्रमुख प्रभद्रक वीर, चेदि, केकय और पांचाल देशके योद्धा, नकुल-सहदेव तथा मत्स्यदेशीय सैनिकोंने कवचसे सुसज्जित हो उसपर धावा बोल दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
cedikekayapāñcālā yamau matsyāś ca daṃśitāḥ |
samabhyadhāvan rādhēyaṃ jighāṃsantaḥ prahāriṇam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Pasukan Cedi, Kekaya, dan Pāñcāla, bersama kedua putra kembar Mādrī serta para prajurit Matsya—semuanya bersenjata dan berbaris—menerjang Rādheya, berniat membunuh sang penyerang yang dahsyat itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic often seen in the Mahābhārata: when a single warrior becomes a decisive threat, opposing forces may unite to restrain or eliminate him. It raises the tension between ideal single-combat norms and pragmatic duty to protect one’s side.
Sañjaya reports that multiple allied contingents—Cedi, Kekaya, Pāñcāla, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and Matsya troops—charge together at Karna, determined to kill him, recognizing him as a major offensive force in the battle.