Shloka 26
कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter
तथा कर्णात्ययीभावे त्वया धार्य महद् बलम् । 'जैसे अर्जुनके मारे जानेपर श्रीकृष्ण पाण्डव-सेनाकी रक्षा करेंगे, उसी प्रकार यदि कर्ण मारा गया तो आपको मेरी विशाल वाहिनीका संरक्षण करना होगा ।।
tathā karṇātyayībhāve tvayā dhārya mahad balam | "jaise arjunake māre jānepara śrīkṛṣṇa pāṇḍava-senākī rakṣā kareṅge, usī prakāra yadi karṇa mārā gayā to āpako merī viśāla vāhinīkā saṃrakṣaṇa karanā hogā" || kimarthaṃ samare sainyaṃ vāsudevo nyavārayat
サञ्जयは言った。「同じく、もしカルナが倒れるなら、汝はこの大軍を支え、守り抜かねばならぬ。もしアルジュナが討たれれば、シュリー・クリシュナがパーンダヴァ軍を護るであろうように、カルナが討たれるなら、汝は我が広大なる軍勢を保全せよ。」（そして問いを発する。）「いかなる理由で、ヴァースデーヴァは戦において軍を制止しなかったのか。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage stresses kṣatriya responsibility in crisis: a commander must sustain morale and protect the army even if the central champion falls. It also highlights reliance on wise guidance (Kṛṣṇa/Vāsudeva) and the ethical weight of safeguarding one’s dependents in war.
Sañjaya reports counsel framed around a battlefield contingency: if Karṇa is slain, the addressed leader must still uphold and protect the remaining force, just as Kṛṣṇa would protect the Pāṇḍavas if Arjuna fell. A further question is posed about why Vāsudeva did not hold back the troops in the fight.