Shloka 25
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
ततः पाज्चालराजकश्ष द्रौपदेयाश्ष मारिष | यमौ च युयुधानश्नव सहिता: कर्णमभ्ययु:,मान्यवर! तब पांचालराज धृष्टद्युम्न, द्रौपदीके पुत्र तथा नकुल, सहदेव और सात्यकि-- इन सबने एक साथ आकर कर्णपर आक्रमण किया
tataḥ pāñcālarājaś ca draupadeyāś ca māriṣa | yamau ca yuyudhānaś ca sahitāḥ karṇam abhyayuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then, O venerable king, the Pāñcāla prince (Dhṛṣṭadyumna), the sons of Draupadī, the twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva, and Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki) together advanced and fell upon Karṇa. In the moral atmosphere of the war, this is a coordinated assault by the Pāṇḍava side against a formidable champion, showing how strategy and collective effort are marshalled when a single warrior’s prowess threatens the balance of dharma on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that in a righteous struggle, overwhelming force may be met not only by individual heroism but by coordinated action; when a single warrior becomes a grave threat, unity and strategy are ethically framed as necessary means to protect one’s side and restore balance on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the sons of Draupadī, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, and Sātyaki together charge and attack Karṇa at once.