Shloka 23
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
पितरं तु परीप्सन्त: कर्णपुत्रा: प्रहारिण: । त्वदीयाश्चापरे राजन् वीरा वीरानवारयन्
pitaraṁ tu parīpsantaḥ karṇaputrāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | tvadīyāś cāpare rājan vīrā vīrān avārayan ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, demi melindungi ayahanda mereka, putera-putera Karṇa—yang mahir melancarkan serangan—bersama para pahlawan lain dari bala tentera tuanku mula menahan dan menghalang para wira Pāṇḍava yang disebutkan tadi.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic ideal of steadfast loyalty and filial responsibility in a kṣatriya context: Karṇa’s sons and allied warriors prioritize protecting their leader/father, accepting the moral weight and danger of confronting formidable opponents.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa’s sons, along with other warriors from Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side, move to block and restrain the advancing Pāṇḍava champions previously described, forming a defensive counter to protect Karṇa.