Shloka 21
कर्णस्य सेनापत्यं, माकरव्यूहः, पाण्डवानामर्धचन्द्रव्यूहः
Karna’s Command; Mākara Formation; Pandava Crescent Counter-Array
कर्णात्मज: सत्यसंधो महात्मा व्यवस्थित: समरे योद्धुकाम:
sañjaya uvāca | karṇātmajaḥ satyasaṃdho mahātmā vyavasthitaḥ samare yoddhukāmaḥ, narendra | karṇakā mahāmanā evaṃ satyapratijñaḥ putraḥ samarāṅgaṇe yuddhakī icchayā daṭā huā hai | isake sivā karṇake dve putrau anyau ca staḥ, ye uttamāstravidau śīghrahastau ca, te'pi tava pakṣe yuddhāya sajjāḥ tiṣṭhanti | etābhyāṃ caiva mahāsenaḥ saha nītā, yā alpadhairyavīrāṇāṃ bhettum duṣkarā |
サンジャヤは言った。「大王よ、カルナの子—真実に堅く、心大いなる者—は、戦場に揺るぎなく立ち、戦いを望んでいる。誓いに忠実なこの高潔なるカルナの子は、合戦の野に踏みとどまり、戦をなす意志を燃やしている。さらにカルナには他に二人の子があり、優れた武器に通じ、手さばきも迅速で、彼らもまた汝の側で戦う備えを整えている。彼らは共に、忍耐の乏しい勇士には突破しがたいほどの大軍勢を率いて来ている。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of satya (truth) and pratijñā (vow): a warrior’s identity is tied to steadfastness and keeping one’s pledged word, even amid the moral strain of war.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Karna’s son stands firmly ready to fight, and that two other sons of Karna—skilled and swift—are also prepared on the Kaurava side, supported by a large force that is difficult to penetrate.