Shloka 45
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
'शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले कुन्तीकुमार! वह देखो, तुम्हारे वानरध्वजको देखकर समरमें तुम्हारे साथ द्वैरथ युद्ध चाहता हुआ राधापुत्र कर्ण इधर लौट पड़ा है ।। वधाय चात्मनो<शभ्येति दीप्तास्यं शलभो यथा । कर्णमेकाकिनं दृष्टवा रथानीकेन भारत
śatrūn ko santāpa denevāle kuntīkumāra! vaha dekho, tumhāre vānaradhvajako dekhakara samare meṁ tumhāre sātha dvairatha-yuddha cāhatā huā rādhāputra karṇa idhara lauṭa paṛā hai. vadhāya cātmano 'śabhyeti dīptāsyaṁ śalabho yathā. karṇam ekākinaṁ dṛṣṭvā rathānīkena bhārata.
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai putera Kuntī, yang menyengsarakan musuh—lihatlah! Setelah melihat panji kera pada kereta perangmu, Karna putera Rādhā berpaling dan kembali ke arah ini, menginginkan duel kereta secara langsung denganmu di medan laga. Dia meluru menuju kematiannya sendiri, bagaikan rama-rama malam terbang ke dalam nyala api yang menyala. Wahai Bharata, melihat Karna berdiri seorang diri, (dia) berhadapan dengan himpunan kereta yang tersusun rapat.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how overpowering resolve mixed with pride can become self-destructive: Karna, stirred by Arjuna’s emblem and the call of single combat, advances as if drawn to inevitable death—like a moth to flame—highlighting the ethical tension between warrior duty and reckless overconfidence.
Sanjaya reports to the Kuru king that Karna, seeing Arjuna’s monkey-banner, turns back toward him seeking a direct chariot duel. The narration frames Karna’s advance as ominous and perilous, and notes that Karna is seen standing alone against a larger chariot array.