Shloka 57
सो5योधयत् तदा कर्ण मायया लाघवेन च
so ’yodhayat tadā karṇa māyayā lāghavena ca
Sañjaya said: Then he engaged Karṇa in battle, relying on strategic illusion and swift maneuvering—meeting force with skill rather than mere brute strength, as the war’s ethics turn on intelligence, restraint, and the responsible use of power.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that victory in war is not only about strength but also about disciplined skill—agility and tactical intelligence. It implicitly raises an ethical tension: stratagem (māyā) can be effective, yet its use must be weighed against dharma and the norms of righteous combat.
Sañjaya reports that the (previously referenced) warrior confronts Karṇa and draws him into combat, using deceptive tactics and swift movements to challenge and counter him on the battlefield.