Shloka 296
कर्णस्य सेनापत्याभिषेकः | Karṇa’s Consecration as Commander-in-Chief
बाह्विकेन महाराज कौरवेन्द्रेण पातित: । राजाधिराज! सेनाविन््दुका श्रेष्ठ पुत्र रणभूमिमें शत्रुओंपर प्रहार कर रहा था। उस समय कौरवेन्द्र बाह्नीकने उसे मार गिराया
bāhvīkena mahārāja kauravendreṇa pātitaḥ | rājādhirāja senāvindukaśreṣṭha-putraḥ raṇabhūmau śatrūn prati prahāraṃ karoti sma | tasmin kāle kauravendro bāhnīkena taṃ nipātitavān |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, ia dijatuhkan oleh Bāhlīka, penguasa Kuru. Wahai raja di atas para raja, putra terbaik Senāvinduka sedang menghantam musuh di medan laga; pada saat itulah Bāhlīka, sang Kuru-lord, menumbangkannya dalam pertempuran.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethics of battlefield duty: even a capable warrior fulfilling his role can be suddenly overcome. It points to the impermanence of martial glory and the heavy moral weight carried by those engaged in righteous-but-destructive conflict.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Senāvinduka’s foremost son was actively striking enemies in the fight, but the Kuru leader Bāhlīka struck him down, ending his combat on the field.