Shloka 35
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
तस्मिन् हते महेष्वासे कर्णे युधि किरीटिना । के वीरा: पर्यतिष्ठन्त तन्ममाचक्ष्व संजय,संजय! युद्धस्थलमें किरीटधारी अर्जुनके द्वारा उस महाधनुर्धर कर्णके मारे जानेपर कौन-कौन-से वीर ठहर सके; यह मुझे बताओ
tasmin hate maheṣvāse karṇe yudhi kirīṭinā | ke vīrāḥ paryatiṣṭhanta tan mamācakṣva sañjaya sañjaya ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Apabila Karṇa, pemanah agung itu, telah gugur dalam perang di tangan Arjuna yang bermahkota, katakanlah kepadaku, Sañjaya—siapakah antara para pahlawan yang masih mampu bertahan di medan laga? Itulah yang ingin aku dengar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the fall of a central champion tests the steadiness (dhairya) and dharma of an army: true valor is not only striking down foes but also maintaining resolve and order when a decisive leader is lost.
After Karṇa is killed by Arjuna, the narrator frames a pivotal battlefield moment: the listener asks Sañjaya to identify which warriors on the Kaurava side (and the field generally) could still stand firm and continue fighting despite the shock of Karṇa’s death.