Shloka 9
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
सो5तिविद्धो भृशं कर्ण: पाण्डवेन तरस्विना । रथकूबरमालम्ब्य न्यमीलयत लोचने,वेगवान् पाण्डुपुत्र भीमके द्वारा अत्यन्त घायल कर दिये जानेपर कर्णने रथके कूबरका सहारा लेकर आँखें बंद कर लीं
so 'tividdho bhṛśaṃ karṇaḥ pāṇḍavena tarasvinā | rathakūbaram ālambya nyamīlayata locane ||
サञ्जयは言った。――猛きパーンダヴァにより激しく射抜かれ、深手を負ったカルナは、戦車の轭にすがって身を支え、目を閉じた。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the human cost of war: prowess and reputation do not exempt a warrior from pain and vulnerability. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma—enduring battle’s harsh duties—while implicitly questioning the devastation that such duty entails.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, grievously wounded by the forceful Pāṇḍava (contextually Bhīma), loses composure momentarily, grips the chariot’s yoke for support, and closes his eyes from the impact and pain.