Shloka 16
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
भीमसेनं करूषांश्व केकयान् सह सृञ्जयै: । कर्णो वैकर्तनो युद्धे वारयामास भारत,भारत! भीमसेनको तथा करूष, केकय और सूंजय योद्धाओंको वैकर्तन कर्णने युद्धमें आगे बढ़नेसे रोका
bhīmasenaṃ karūṣāṃś ca kekayān saha sṛñjayaiḥ | karṇo vaikartano yuddhe vārayāmāsa bhārata ||
Sañjaya berkata: Di tengah pertempuran, Karṇa—Vaikartana, putera sais kereta—menahan Bhīmasena serta para pejuang Karūṣa, Kekaya dan Sṛñjaya daripada mara ke hadapan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the battlefield ethic of decisive leadership: a single commander’s resolve and capacity can restrain multiple advancing forces. It reflects the kṣatriya ideal of standing firm as a bulwark, shaping outcomes through courage and tactical control rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa, in active combat, prevents Bhīma and allied contingents (Karūṣas, Kekayas, Sṛñjayas) from pressing forward—indicating Karṇa’s dominance at that moment and a temporary check on the Pāṇḍava side’s advance.