Shloka 17
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
मध्ये सेनामुखे कर्णो5प्यवातिष्ठत दंशित: । चित्रवर्माड्भद: स्रग्वी पालयन् वाहिनीमुखम्
madhye senāmukhe karṇo 'py avātiṣṭhata daṁśitaḥ | citravarmādbhutaḥ sragvī pālayan vāhinīmukham ||
सेनेच्या अग्रभागाच्या नेमक्या मध्यभागी कर्णही सज्ज होऊन अढळ उभा होता। विचित्र कवच, अंगद व हार धारण करून तो व्यूहाच्या तोंडाशी अग्रवाहिनीचे रक्षण करीत होता।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and command-responsibility in battle: a leader must hold the front line and protect the formation. It also implicitly frames war as a domain where duty and moral burden coexist—valor is praised, yet it unfolds within a larger ethical tragedy.
Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s battlefield posture: he stands at the center of the army’s front, fully armed, adorned with striking armour and a garland, guarding the opening/front of the battle-array so the vanguard remains protected and organized.