Shloka 4
रक्ष कर्ण रणे यत्तो वृतः सैन्येन मानद,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
sañjaya uvāca |
rakṣa karṇa raṇe yatto vṛtaḥ sainyena mānada |
abhiyāti drutaṃ karṇa tad vārayā mahāratham ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, protect Karṇa in the battle. That mighty warrior—Ghaṭotkaca—surrounded by his troops and intent on slaying Karṇa, is rushing swiftly toward the charioteer’s son. Therefore, restrain that great chariot-fighter.” In the ethical frame of the epic, the line underscores the battlefield duty of protection and counter-action: when a key ally is targeted, the king’s side must respond promptly, not out of personal hatred alone but as a strategic obligation within the harsh code of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the epic’s war-ethic, leadership entails immediate protective action when a principal warrior is threatened. The verse highlights vigilance, alliance-duty, and strategic restraint—responding to danger swiftly to prevent an imbalance in the battle.
Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca, intent on killing Karṇa and supported by his forces, is rapidly advancing toward Karṇa’s chariot. The Kaurava side (as elaborated in the Hindi gloss) urges that he be stopped—Duryodhana instructs Duḥśāsana to restrain the attacking mahāratha.