Shloka 11
दृष्टवा केसरिणं क्रुद्धं मृगा इव महावने । “जैसे महान् वनमें मृग कुपित हुए सिंहको देखकर भागने लगते हैं, उसी प्रकार ये पांचाल महारथी अपने सैन्यदलके साथ कर्णको देखकर भागे जा रहे हैं ।।
sañjaya uvāca | dṛṣṭvā kesariṇaṁ kruddhaṁ mṛgā iva mahāvane | yathā mahān vane mṛgāḥ kupitaṁ siṁhaṁ dṛṣṭvā palāyante, tathā ime pāñcālā mahārathāḥ svasainyadalena saha karṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā palāyante || sarvayatnena kaunteya hantum arhasi sūtajam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Seperti rusa di rimba raya lari ketika melihat singa yang murka, demikian pula para maharatha Pāñcāla ini, bersama pasukan mereka, mundur saat melihat Karṇa. Karena itu, wahai putra Kuntī, berusahalah sekuat tenaga untuk menewaskan putra sais itu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kshatriya imperative of resolute action in a justly undertaken battle: when a formidable threat destabilizes allies and morale collapses, the responsible warrior must act decisively and with full effort to neutralize that threat.
Sanjaya reports that the Panchala champions and their troops are retreating in fear upon seeing Karna, likening them to deer fleeing an enraged lion. He then urges Arjuna (Kaunteya) to make every effort to kill Karna, identified pointedly as ‘the charioteer’s son’ (sūtaja).