अशवनुवंश्वाभिमन्यो: कर्ण: स्थातुं रणेडग्रत: । सौभद्रशरनिर्भिन्नो विसंज्ञ: शोणितोक्षित:
aśvan uvaṁśvābhimanyoḥ karṇaḥ sthātuṁ raṇe 'grataḥ | saubhadra-śara-nirbhinnō visaṁjñaḥ śoṇitokṣitaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Di garis depan medan laga, Karṇa tak sanggup lagi bertahan menghadapi Abhimanyu. Ditembus panah-putra Subhadrā, ia roboh tak sadarkan diri, bermandikan darah.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the moral and existential reality of war: strength and reputation do not guarantee invulnerability. Martial power meets limits when confronted by equal or superior valor, and the battlefield exposes the consequences of choosing violence as a means of resolving conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, facing Abhimanyu at the front of the battle, cannot maintain his position. Abhimanyu (called Saubhadra) pierces him with arrows, leaving Karṇa unconscious and covered in blood.