Shloka 14
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
महाराज! इस प्रकार समरांगणमें अलौकिक कर्म करनेवाले कर्णको पांचाल रथियोंने चारों ओरसे घेर लिया ।।
tataḥ sandhāya viśikhān pañca bhārata duḥsahān | pañcālān avadhīt pañca karṇo vaikartano vṛṣaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Maka Karṇa—Vaikartana, laksana lembu jantan perkasa di antara para pahlawan—memasang lima anak panah yang tiada tertahan pada busurnya lalu menewaskan lima pejuang berkereta Pāñcāla. Di tengah gelanggang perang yang menghimpit, ketika para wira dikepung dari segenap arah, keperwiraan luar biasa Karṇa terserlah sebagai pembunuhan yang pantas dan muktamad, menegaskan ketegangan etika dharma kṣatriya: kemuliaan dan kecekapan perang dicapai melalui pengambilan nyawa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral tension within kṣatriya-dharma: excellence in battle is praised as heroic strength, yet it is realized through lethal action. It invites reflection on how duty, reputation, and the demands of war can normalize violence even when narrated as ‘extraordinary deeds’.
In the Karna Parva battle scene, Karna is surrounded by Panchala chariot-warriors. He then nocks and aims five formidable arrows and kills five Panchala fighters in quick succession, demonstrating his dominance in that moment of the fight.