Shloka 27
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
दुर्योधनश्व कर्णश्व शकुनिश्चापि सौबल: । गन्धर्वान् योधयामासु: समरे भृशविक्षता:,दुर्योधन, कर्ण और सुबलपुत्र शकुनि--ये उस समरांगणमें यद्यपि बहुत घायल हो गये थे, तथापि गन्धर्वोसे युद्ध करते रहे
vaiśampāyana uvāca | duryodhanaś ca karṇaś ca śakuniś cāpi saubalaḥ | gandharvān yodhayāmāsuḥ samare bhṛśa-vikṣatāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni—the son of Subala—though grievously wounded, still continued to fight the Gandharvas on the battlefield. The verse highlights their stubborn persistence in combat even when physically broken, a resolve that can appear as valor yet is ethically shadowed when driven by pride and wrongdoing rather than righteous duty.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Endurance in battle can resemble heroism, but the Mahābhārata repeatedly asks whether one’s resolve serves dharma or merely pride. Here, persistence despite wounds underscores determination, yet the broader narrative frames such tenacity as ethically ambiguous when aligned with adharma.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Śakuni—though badly injured—continue fighting the Gandharvas in the ongoing battle episode of the Vana Parva.