Shloka 10
एते रक्षन्ति राजानं सूतपुत्रेण रक्षिता: | अवध्यमानास्ते<स्माभिर्घातयिष्यन्ति सोमकान्
ete rakṣanti rājānaṃ sūtaputreṇa rakṣitāḥ | avadhyamānās te ’smābhir ghātayiṣyanti somakān ||
Arjuna berkata: “Para pahlawan ini, yang dilindungi oleh putera sais kereta (Karṇa), sedang menjaga raja (Duryodhana). Jika kita tidak menewaskan mereka, maka mereka—tanpa diserang oleh kita—akan membantai kaum Somaka. Maka mereka mesti dihadapi dan ditumpaskan demi melindungi sekutu kita dan haluan peperangan.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames battlefield violence as conditional and duty-bound: if key defenders are left unchecked, they will destroy one’s allies. Arjuna argues for decisive action to prevent greater harm, reflecting kṣatriya responsibility to protect one’s side and uphold the chosen war-aim.
In the Karṇa Parva battle context, Arjuna identifies Duryodhana’s principal protectors—supported by Karna—and warns that unless they are eliminated, they will massacre the Somakas (Pāñcāla-aligned troops). He urges targeting these defenders to safeguard allied forces.