Shloka 64
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
ततस्ते पाण्डवा राजन् शिखण्डी च ससात्यकि: । राधेयात् परिरक्षन्तो राजानं पर्यवारयन्,राजन! तब पाण्डवों, शिखण्डी और सात्यकिने राधापुत्र कर्णसे राजा युधिष्ठिरकी रक्षा करनेके लिये उन्हें चारों ओरसे घेर लिया
tataste pāṇḍavā rājan śikhaṇḍī ca sasātyakiḥ | rādheyāt parirakṣanto rājānaṃ paryavārayan ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, kemudian para Pāṇḍava—bersama Śikhaṇḍī dan Sātyaki—membentuk lingkaran perlindungan mengelilingi raja mereka. Demi melindungi Yudhiṣṭhira daripada Rādheya (Karna), mereka mengepung baginda dari segala arah, bertekad menangkis bahaya yang menghimpit di medan perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights rājan-dharma and collective responsibility: a king’s safety is tied to the vigilance and loyalty of his protectors, and in crisis dharma expresses itself as coordinated protection of the rightful leader rather than isolated heroism.
During the battle, the Pāṇḍavas, along with Śikhaṇḍī and Sātyaki, close ranks around King Yudhiṣṭhira to shield him specifically from Karna (Rādheya), forming a defensive encirclement.