Shloka 6
Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
इत्युक्तो रथमास्थाय तथेति प्राह भारत । शल्ये<भ्युपगते कर्ण: सारथिं सुमनाब्रवीत्
ity ukto ratham āsthāya tatheti prāha bhārata | śalye'bhyupagate karṇaḥ sārathiṃ sumanā abravīt ||
ഇങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ കർണൻ രഥം കയറി—“തഥാസ്തു, ഹേ ഭാരത!” എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു. ശല്യൻ സമീപിച്ചപ്പോൾ, കർണൻ പ്രസന്നമനസ്സോടെ തന്റെ സാരഥിയോടു സംസാരിച്ചു।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined assent and readiness to act: Karṇa accepts what has been proposed and proceeds to his duty. Ethically, it also foreshadows the complexity of depending on an ally (Śalya) whose loyalties and speech may not fully support him—showing how dharma in war includes not only valor but also navigating fraught relationships.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa, after being addressed, mounts his chariot and agrees (“so be it”). As Śalya comes near to take up the role connected with the chariot, Karṇa—calm and resolved—speaks to his charioteer, setting the stage for the ensuing battle actions.