Shloka 81
उस समय कर्णने रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ घटोत्कचको पुनः रथपर बैठकर आते देखा। उसके मनमें तनिक भी घबराहट नहीं थी। सिंह, शार्टूल और मतवाले गजराजके समान पराक्रमी बहुत-से राक्षस उसे घेरे हुए थे ।। गजस्थैश्नव रथस्थैश्न वाजिपृष्ठगतैस्तथा । नानाशस्त्रधरैघोरैर्नानाकवच भूषणै:,उन राक्षसोंमेंसे कुछ हाथियोंपर, कुछ रथोंपर और कुछ घोड़ोंकी पीठोंपर सवार थे। वे भयंकर निशाचर नाना प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्र, कवच और आभूषण धारण किये हुए थे
sañjaya uvāca | tadā karṇena rathināṃ śreṣṭho ghaṭotkacaḥ punaḥ rathopari niṣaṇṇaḥ samāyānta iti dṛṣṭaḥ | tasya manasi tanum api na āsīt sambhramaḥ | siṃha-śārdūla-mattagajarāja-sadṛśa-parākramā bahavo rākṣasāḥ taṃ parivārya tiṣṭhanti || gajastaiś ca rathasthaiś ca vājipṛṣṭhagatās tathā | nānāśastradharair ghorair nānākavaca-bhūṣaṇaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: At that time Karṇa saw Ghaṭotkaca—foremost among chariot-warriors—once again coming forward, mounted upon his chariot. Not the slightest fear stirred in him. Many rākṣasas of tremendous might, like lions, tigers, and rutting lordly elephants, surrounded him. Some of those rākṣasas were seated on elephants, some on chariots, and others upon the backs of horses—terrifying night-roamers bearing diverse weapons, and adorned with various armours and ornaments. The passage underscores the war-ethic of steadfastness under threat: courage and composure are displayed even amid overwhelming, fearsome forces.
संजय उवाच