Shloka 11
अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle
शिनिवृषभशरैर्निपीडितं तव सुहृदो वसुषेणमभ्ययु: । त्वरितमतिरथा रथर्षभं द्विरदरथाश्व॒पदातिभि: सह
śinivṛṣabhaśarair nipīḍitaṃ tava suhṛdo vasuṣeṇam abhyayuḥ | tvaritam atirathā ratharṣabhaṃ dvirada-ratha-aśva-padātibhiḥ saha ||
Sañjaya said: Your well-wishers, seeing Vasuṣeṇa (Karna) hard-pressed by the arrows of Śinivṛṣabha, swiftly advanced toward that bull among chariot-warriors. Those foremost fighters hurried in, accompanied by elephants, chariots, cavalry, and infantry—moving to uphold their ally amid the crisis of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of standing by one’s ally in danger: when a principal warrior is overwhelmed, comrades must respond swiftly and in coordinated force, treating loyalty and protection of one’s side as a battlefield duty.
Karna (Vasuṣeṇa) is being severely harassed by Sātyaki’s (Śinivṛṣabha’s) arrows. Seeing this, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s warriors—Karna’s supporters—rush forward with a combined formation of elephants, chariots, horsemen, and foot-soldiers to reinforce him.