Shloka 34
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
प्राप्प सेनानिवेशं च मार्गणै: क्षतविक्षत: । अवतीर्णों रथात्तूर्णणाविशच्छयनं शुभम्,नकुल और सहदेवके साथ वे नरेश लज्जित होते हुए-से तुरंत छावनीमें पहुँचकर रथसे उतर पड़े और सुन्दर शय्यापर लेट गये। उस समय उनका सारा शरीर बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत हो रहा था
prāpya senāniveśaṃ ca mārgaiḥ kṣata-vikṣataḥ | avatīrṇo rathāt tūrṇaṃ āviśac chayanaṃ śubham ||
Sañjaya said: Wounded and torn by the arrows, he reached the army’s encampment. Quickly descending from his chariot, he entered a fine resting-place and lay down—his body still bearing the harsh marks of battle. The scene underscores the human cost of war: even kings and heroes, bound by duty and circumstance, are brought to exhaustion, pain, and a humbled retreat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the inevitable suffering that accompanies war: valor and royal status do not shield one from pain and exhaustion. It implicitly cautions that dharma in battle carries grave bodily and moral consequences, making compassion and restraint ethically significant.
Sañjaya reports that the wounded warrior reaches the military camp, quickly gets down from his chariot, and lies on a fine bed to recover, his body pierced and torn by arrows.