Shloka 15
विद्ध्वा च बहुभिर्बाणैरभैमसेनिं महाबल: । व्यद्रावयच्छरव्रातै: पाण्डवानामनीकिनीम्,अभियाति द्रुतं कर्ण तद् वारय महारथम् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन! युद्धस्थलमें इस प्रकार कर्णका वध करनेकी इच्छासे उद्यत हुए घटोत्कचको सूतपुत्रके रथकी ओर आते देख आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने दःशासनसे इस प्रकार कहा--'भाई! यह राक्षस रणभूमिमें कर्णका वेगपूर्वक पराक्रम देखकर तीव्र गतिसे उसपर आक्रमण कर रहा है; अतः उस महारथी घटोत्कचको रोको उस महाबली निशाचरने भीमसेनकुमारको बहुत-से बाणोंद्वारा घायल करके अपने बाणसमूहोंसे पाण्डव-सेनाको खदेड़ना आरम्भ किया
sañjaya uvāca | viddhvā ca bahubhir bāṇair abhaimaseniṁ mahābalaḥ | vyadrāvayac charavrātaiḥ pāṇḍavānām anīkinīm | abhiyāti drutaṁ karṇa tad vārayā mahāratham |
Sañjaya said: “O King, that mighty warrior, having pierced Abhaimaseni (Ghaṭotkaca) with many arrows, began to drive back the Pāṇḍava host with volleys of shafts. ‘Karna is being swiftly assailed—check that great chariot-warrior!’” The scene underscores the ruthless momentum of battle: prowess is met with counter-prowess, and commanders urgently seek to protect key champions, even as the wider army is thrown into disorder.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata ethic of battlefield responsibility: leaders must anticipate threats to pivotal warriors and act swiftly to protect them, while recognizing that martial excellence (śaurya) can rapidly destabilize entire formations. It also reflects the grim reciprocity of war—injury answered by greater force—where tactical duty often overrides compassion.
Sañjaya reports that a powerful fighter wounds Abhaimaseni (Ghaṭotkaca) with many arrows and then routs the Pāṇḍava host with arrow-volleys. Simultaneously, there is an urgent call to stop the great chariot-warrior who is swiftly attacking Karna, indicating a critical moment where Karna is under immediate threat and must be defended.