Shloka 23
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
निमेषार्धात् ततः कर्णो धनुर्हस्तो व्यतिष्ठत । दृष्टवा स कुरुसौवीरसिन्धुवीरबलक्षयम्
nimeṣārdhāt tataḥ karṇo dhanur-hasto vyatiṣṭhata | dṛṣṭvā sa kuru-sauvīra-sindhu-vīra-bala-kṣayam ||
Sañjaya said: Then, in less than half a blink, Karṇa stood firm with his bow in hand. Seeing the destruction of the warriors’ forces—those of the Kurus, the Sauvīras, and the Sindhu heroes—he braced himself to respond, steadying his resolve amid the collapsing ranks and the mounting cost of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya steadiness in calamity: when forces collapse and allies fall, a leader is tested by how quickly and firmly he regains composure and takes responsibility. It also underscores the ethical weight of war—victory and loss can turn in an instant, demanding vigilance and restraint.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, seeing heavy losses among allied warrior groups (Kurus, Sauvīras, and Sindhu heroes), immediately takes a firm stance with his bow ready—signaling a rapid tactical and psychological response to a sudden battlefield reversal.