Shloka 513
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
स कथं निहतो वीर: पार्थेन परवीरहा । 'संशप्तकोंमेंसे जो योद्धा सदा मुझे दूसरी ओर युद्धके लिये बुलाया करते हैं
sa kathaṁ nihato vīraḥ pārthena paravīrahā |
ヴァイシャṃパーヤナは言った。「敵の勇士を屠る英雄——カルナ——は、いかにしてパールタ（アルジュナ）に討たれたのか。アルジュナはしばしば御者の子との正面対決を先延ばしにし、『常に我を戦へと呼び出すサṃシャプタカどもをまず討ち滅ぼし、その後に戦場でヴァイカルタナ・カルナを討つ』と口実を立てていた。では、敵勇士の破壊者たる最上の戦士カルナを、アルジュナはいかなる手立てでついに倒したのか。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical-narrative tension: a renowned hero (Karna) is not merely defeated, but his death demands explanation because of his stature and Arjuna’s earlier postponements. It invites reflection on how vows, strategy, and circumstance intersect with dharma in war—especially when the fall of a great warrior seems to require moral and causal clarification.
The narrator (Vaiśaṃpāyana) poses a pointed question: despite Arjuna repeatedly claiming he would first eliminate the Saṃśaptakas and only then kill Karna, how did Arjuna actually manage to slay Karna, the famed destroyer of enemy champions? The verse functions as a transition into the account of Karna’s death.