Shloka 31
अजातशशम्रुमुत्सज्य माद्रीपुत्री च पाण्डवौ । तव पुत्र परित्रातुम भ्यधावत वीर्यवान्,पृथ्वीनाथ! शल्यकी यह बात सुनकर तथा महासमरमें दुर्योधनको भीमसेनसे ग्रस्त हुआ देखकर शल्यके वचनोंसे प्रेरित हो राजाको अधिक चाहनेवाला पराक्रमी कर्ण अजातशत्रु युधिष्ठिर और माद्रीकुमार पाण्डुपुत्र नकुल-सहदेवको छोड़कर आपके पुत्रकी रक्षा करनेके लिये दौड़ा
ajātaśaśmrum utsṛjya mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau | tava putra-paritrātuṁ abhyadhāvat vīryavān pṛthvīnātha ||
Sañjaya said: Leaving aside Ajātaśatru (Yudhiṣṭhira) and the two Pāṇḍava sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva), the mighty warrior hurried forward, O lord of the earth, to protect your son. (In context, urged on by Śalya’s words and seeing Duryodhana hard-pressed by Bhīmasena in the great battle, Karṇa—who prized the king above all—rushed to Duryodhana’s defense.)
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how loyalty and immediate duty in war can override other engagements: Karṇa prioritizes protecting his ally-king Duryodhana when he sees him endangered, showing the kṣatriya ethic of safeguarding one’s leader—while also illustrating how counsel (Śalya’s prompting) can redirect a warrior’s choices amid moral and tactical pressure.
In the thick of battle, Duryodhana is being overwhelmed by Bhīma. Hearing Śalya’s words and seeing the danger, Karṇa breaks off from confronting Yudhiṣṭhira and the twins Nakula–Sahadeva, and rushes to defend Duryodhana.