Shloka 16
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
हतवीरमिदं सैन्यं पाण्डवै: समरे विभो । कर्णो होको महाबाहुरस्मत्प्रियहिते रत:,'प्रभो! पाण्डवोंने समरांगणमें मेरी सेनाके प्रमुख वीरोंको मार डाला है। एक महाबाहु कर्ण ही ऐसा है, जो हमारे प्रिय एवं हितसाधनमें लगा हुआ है
hatavīram idaṁ sainyaṁ pāṇḍavaiḥ samare vibho | karṇo hy eko mahābāhur asmatpriyahite rataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O mighty lord, this army has been stripped of its foremost heroes by the Pāṇḍavas in battle. Only Karṇa, the great-armed warrior, remains—steadfastly devoted to what is dear and beneficial to us.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: when many leaders fall, a kingdom clings to a single champion. It underscores loyalty and duty to one’s side, while implicitly revealing the fragility of power that depends on individual prowess rather than righteous policy.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas have slain the Kauravas’ principal warriors, leaving Karṇa as the lone great fighter still actively committed to advancing what the Kauravas consider their interest.