Shloka 23
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
पितरं तु परीप्सन्त: कर्णपुत्रा: प्रहारिण: । त्वदीयाश्चापरे राजन् वीरा वीरानवारयन्,राजन! उस समय अपने पिताकी रक्षा चाहनेवाले प्रहारकुशल कर्णपुत्र तथा आपकी सेनाके दूसरे-दूसरे वीर पूर्वोक्त पाण्डववीरोंका निवारण करने लगे
pitaraṁ tu parīpsantaḥ karṇaputrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | tvadīyāś cāpare rājan vīrā vīrān avārayan ||
Sañjaya berkata: Demi melindungi ayah mereka, putra-putra Karṇa yang mahir menghantam, bersama para kesatria lain dari pasukanmu, wahai Raja, mulai menahan dan menghalau para pahlawan Pāṇḍava yang telah disebutkan itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of steadfast loyalty and filial responsibility in a kṣatriya context: Karṇa’s sons and allied warriors prioritize protecting their leader/father, accepting the moral weight and danger of confronting formidable opponents.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa’s sons, along with other warriors from Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side, move to block and restrain the advancing Pāṇḍava champions previously described, forming a defensive counter to protect Karṇa.