Shloka 49
तत्राप्यधिकमालक्ष्य माधवं रथसत्तमम् | क्षिप्रमभ्यपतत् कर्ण: परीप्संस्तनयं तव
tatrāpy adhikam ālakṣya mādhavaṁ rathasattamam | kṣipram abhyapatat karṇaḥ parīpsaṁs tanayaṁ tava ||
Sañjaya said: Even there, having clearly perceived Mādhava—foremost among chariot-warriors—Karna swiftly rushed forward, intent on reaching and striking down your son. The moment shows Karna’s tactical urgency and single-minded resolve in battle, where personal loyalty and the drive to secure advantage can override caution amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the pressure of war, a warrior’s loyalty and determination can become a driving force that narrows attention to a single objective. Ethically, it invites reflection on how resolve and duty (as understood by the combatant) may conflict with prudence and the broader human cost of battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna, noticing Mādhava—described as the foremost chariot-warrior—charges swiftly, aiming to reach Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (contextually Duryodhana). It depicts a rapid tactical movement amid the ongoing fighting in Droṇa Parva.