Shloka 223
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
घातित: पाण्डवै: शूरै: समरे वीर्यशालिभि: । रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ जिस राधापुत्रने दुर्योधनकी वृद्धिके लिये कंकपत्रयुक्त
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ghātitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūraiḥ samare vīryaśālibhiḥ | rathīnāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sa rādheyaḥ (rādhāputraḥ) yaḥ duryodhanasya vṛddhaye kaṅkapatra-yuktaiḥ tīkṣṇa-dhārair painaiḥ bāṇa-saṃghaiḥ samastān śatrūn parājitya tebhyaḥ karaṃ vyāharat | yo divyāstravit, uttamāstra-kuśalaḥ, asmākaṃ senānāṃ rakṣitā ca | sa mahātejasvī dharmātmā vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ kathaṃ śūravīraiḥ balibhiś ca śatrubhiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ ghātitaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dibunuh di medan perang oleh para Pāṇḍava yang gagah, yang terbukti perkasa—bagaimanakah Karṇa, Vaikartana yang bercahaya dan berjiwa dharma, dapat ditumbangkan oleh musuh-musuh yang berani dan kuat itu? Dialah yang terunggul antara para rathi, putera Rādhā, yang demi kemajuan dan keuntungan Duryodhana telah menundukkan semua lawan dengan hujan anak panah yang tajam dan bermata runcing, lalu memungut ufti daripada mereka. Dia mengetahui senjata-senjata ilahi, mahir akan persenjataan terbaik, dan pelindung bala tentera kita. Bagaimana mungkin orang sedemikian dibunuh oleh Pāṇḍava?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Karṇa’s fall as a moral and narrative paradox: even a mighty, disciplined, and ‘dharmic’ warrior—skilled in divine weapons and devoted to protecting his side—can be overcome in war. It invites reflection on how loyalty, ambition, and the larger course of dharma and destiny can bring about the downfall of even the most formidable individuals.
Vaiśampāyana describes Karṇa’s stature: foremost among chariot-fighters, a master of divine missiles, and a key defender of the Kaurava forces who had subdued enemies and extracted tribute for Duryodhana’s benefit. Against this backdrop, he raises the question of how such a warrior could be slain by the Pāṇḍavas—setting up the account of the circumstances leading to Karṇa’s death.