Shloka 40
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
पश्य कर्ण रणे पार्थ श्वेतच्छत्रविराजितम् | उदयं पर्वतं यद्वच्छशाड्केनाभिशोभितम्,"ऐसा कहकर यह कर्ण पीछेसे बाण-वर्षा करता हुआ गया है। पार्थ! रणभूमिमें श्वेत छत्रसे विराजमान कर्णको देखो। वह चन्द्रमासे सुशोभित उदयाचलके समान जान पड़ता है
paśya karṇa raṇe pārtha śvetacchatravirājitam | udayaṃ parvataṃ yadvac chaśāṅkenābhiśobhitam ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Lihatlah, wahai Pārtha, Karṇa di medan perang, berseri di bawah payung diraja putih. Dia bagaikan gunung di timur yang diserikan oleh bulan.” Rangkap ini membingkai kehadiran Karṇa dengan citra kosmik dan kebesaran raja, menegaskan bahawa kemegahan dan kehormatan lahiriah dalam perang boleh menutupi bahaya batin serta ketegangan moral dalam pertikaian sesama darah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war exalts warriors with signs of honor and grandeur (the white parasol, cosmic comparisons), yet such splendor does not resolve the deeper ethical strain of the conflict; it invites reflection on the difference between outward glory and the inner moral cost of battle.
Sañjaya, narrating the battle to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, points out Karṇa’s striking appearance on the battlefield and addresses Arjuna as ‘Pārtha,’ comparing Karṇa’s radiance under a white parasol to the eastern mountain beautified by the moon.