Shloka 693
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
न वध: पुरुषेन्द्रस्यथ संयुगेष्वपलायिन: । जब अधिरथपुत्र कर्ण अपने धनुषकी प्रत्यंचाका स्पर्श कर रहा हो अथवा दस्ताने पहन चुका हो
vaiśampāyana uvāca | na vadhaḥ puruṣendrasya tha saṃyugeṣv apalāyinaḥ | yadādhirathaputraḥ karṇaḥ svadhanurjyā-sparśaṃ karoti vā hastatrāṇaṃ paridhatte vā, tadā tasya purataḥ kaścid api pumān na tiṣṭhati | sambhavatiyaṃ pṛthivī candrasūryayoḥ prabhāmayībhir raśmibhir vihīnā syāt, kintu raṇe pṛṣṭhaṃ na darśayataḥ puruṣaśiromaṇeḥ karṇasya vadhasya kadācid api na sambhāvanā |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。戦場で決して退かぬその人中の主を討つことなど、あり得なかった。アディラタの子カルナが、ただ弓の弦に触れるだけでも、あるいは護りの手袋をはめ終えただけでも、彼の前に立ち得る者はいない。大地が月と太陽の光輝く光線を失うことは、あるいはあり得よう。だが、戦に背を見せぬ武人の冠玉たるカルナの死は、決して起こり得ぬものと見なされていた。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage extols the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage: a warrior’s excellence is measured by refusal to flee and by unwavering presence in battle. It frames Karṇa’s valor as so absolute that his defeat seems as unlikely as the world losing the sun and moon’s rays—highlighting how reputation, resolve, and martial readiness (even touching the bowstring) become ethical symbols of duty in war.
Vaiśampāyana delivers a eulogistic description of Karṇa’s battlefield dominance. He says that when Karṇa prepares for combat—touching his bowstring or putting on protective hand-gear—no opponent can stand before him, and thus his death in battle appears virtually impossible.