Shloka 7
जटासुरो मम पिता रक्षसां ग्रामणी: पुरा,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 | jaṭāsuro mama pitā rakṣasāṃ grāmaṇīḥ purā, abhiyāti drutaṃ karṇa tad vārayā mahāratham |
Sanjaya said: “O King, Jaṭāsura—my father in former times, a leader among the rākṣasas—used to charge swiftly. In the same way, Ghaṭotkaca, intent on killing Karṇa, is now rushing at great speed toward the charioteer’s son. Seeing him advance to strike Karṇa after witnessing his fierce prowess, your son Duryodhana spoke to Duḥśāsana: ‘Brother, stop that great chariot-warrior Ghaṭotkaca.’”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield ethics and duty through the lens of leadership: when a grave threat approaches a key warrior, commanders must respond decisively to protect their forces. It also underscores how perception of an opponent’s prowess shapes immediate moral and strategic choices in war.
Ghaṭotkaca, determined to kill Karṇa, rushes toward Karṇa’s chariot. Observing this, Duryodhana instructs Duḥśāsana to stop (restrain/ward off) the formidable attacker, recognizing the danger posed to Karṇa.