Shloka 22
कर्णस्य सेनापत्यं, माकरव्यूहः, पाण्डवानामर्धचन्द्रव्यूहः
Karna’s Command; Mākara Formation; Pandava Crescent Counter-Array
अथापरोी कर्णसुतौ वरास्त्रौ व्यवस्थितौ लघुहस्तौ नरेन्द्र । बल॑ महद् दुर्भिदमल्पधैर्य: समाश्रितौ योत्स्यमानौ त्वदर्थे
athāparau karṇasutau varāstrau vyavasthitau laghuhastau narendra | balaṁ mahad durbhidam alpadhairyaḥ samāśritau yotsyamānau tvadarthe ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, selain dia, dua orang putera Karṇa—mahir dalam senjata yang unggul dan pantas tangannya—berdiri tersusun, siap bertempur bagi pihak tuanku. Mereka berlindung pada suatu kekuatan besar, sukar ditembusi oleh para pahlawan yang kurang keteguhan hati.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how military strength depends not only on numbers but on steadiness (dhairya). A force becomes “hard to break” when supported by resolute fighters, while those of little courage are easily shaken—an ethical reminder that inner firmness is decisive in crisis.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in addition to Karṇa himself, Karṇa’s two sons—skilled and quick-handed—are positioned and ready to fight for the Kauravas, supported by a large contingent that would be difficult for less steadfast warriors to penetrate.