Shloka 45
ते हित्वा समरे कर्ण वध्यमानाश्न सायकै: । प्रदुद्रवुर्दिशो भीताश्लुक्रुशुश्नापि सूतजम्,बाणोंसे बिंध जानेके कारण वे भयभीत हो रणभूमिमें कर्णको अकेला ही छोड़कर सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें भाग चले; किंतु अपनी रक्षाके लिये सूतपुत्र कर्णको ही पुकारते रहे
te hitvā samare karṇa vadhyamānāś ca sāyakaiḥ | pradudruvur diśo bhītāḥ krūśuś cāpi sūtajam ||
Sañjaya said: Struck down by arrows and seized by fear, they abandoned Karṇa on the battlefield and fled in every direction. Yet even as they ran for their own safety, they kept crying out to the charioteer’s son, Karṇa, as the one who should protect them—revealing the moral contradiction of deserting a leader while still demanding his shelter.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical inconsistency: people may abandon duty and loyalty under fear, yet still expect protection from the very leader they desert. It implicitly critiques opportunistic dependence and underscores the dharmic ideal of steadfastness in crisis.
During the battle, Karna’s side—wounded and terrified by a shower of arrows—breaks formation and flees, leaving Karna alone. Even while fleeing, they continue to call out to Karna (sūtaja) for protection.