Shloka 3
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
त॑ प्रेक्ष्य कर्ण: परिवर्तमानं निवर्त्य संस्तभ्य च विद्धगात्रम् । दुर्योधनस्योत्तरतो 5 भ्यगच्छत् पार्थ नृवीरो युधि हेममाली
taṁ prekṣya karṇaḥ parivartamānaṁ nivartya saṁstabhya ca viddhagātram | duryodhanasyottarato 'bhyagacchat pārtha nṛvīro yudhi hemamālī ||
Melihatnya berbalik, Karṇa pun mundur sejenak, menegakkan tubuhnya yang terluka dengan susah payah. Ia lalu maju di medan laga, mengambil posisi di sisi utara (kiri) Duryodhana untuk menghadapi Pārtha. Sang pahlawan manusia itu berhias kalung emas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior code (kṣatriya-dharma) as lived in practice: steadfastness despite injury and loyalty to one’s ally. It also points to the ethical tension of war—valor and commitment are praised even when the cause itself may be morally fraught.
As someone on the field turns back, Karṇa also withdraws momentarily, braces his wounded body, then moves to Duryodhana’s northern/left side and advances to face Pārtha (Arjuna) in battle, described as a heroic warrior adorned with a golden garland.