Shloka 5
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
भीमो वा सूततनयं प्रत्युद्यात: कथं रणे । महारथं समाख्यातं पृथिव्यां प्रवरं रथम्,अथवा भीमसेन भूमण्डलके श्रेष्ठ एवं विख्यात महारथी सूतपुत्र कर्णसे समरांगणमें युद्ध करनेके लिये कैसे आगे बढ़े?
sañjaya uvāca |
bhīmo vā sūta-tanayaṁ pratyudyātaḥ kathaṁ raṇe |
mahārathaṁ samākhyātaṁ pṛthivyāṁ pravaraṁ ratham ||
Sañjaya said: “How, in the midst of battle, has Bhīma advanced to confront the charioteer’s son (Karna)? Karna is renowned on earth as a foremost chariot-warrior, celebrated as a mahāratha.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even when an opponent is famed as a foremost mahāratha, a warrior bound by kṣatriya-dharma may still advance without hesitation, valuing duty and resolve over fear of reputation.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra with astonishment that Bhīma has moved forward on the battlefield to challenge Karna, who is widely celebrated as an exceptional chariot-warrior.