Shloka 50
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
नागमद् द्वैरथं वीर: स कथं निहतो रणे । जिसे देवराज इन्द्रने दो कुण्डलोंके बदलेमें विद्युतके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाली तथा शत्रुओंका नाश करनेमें समर्थ सुवर्णभूषित दिव्य शक्ति प्रदान की थी
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
nāgamad dvairathaṃ vīraḥ sa kathaṃ nihato raṇe |
saṃśaptakānāṃ yodhā ye āhvayanta sadānyataḥ |
sa kathaṃ nihato vīraḥ pārthena paravīrahā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wira itu, masyhur dalam pertarungan kereta lawan kereta, tidak pun turun ke duel langsung—maka bagaimana dia terbunuh di medan perang? Dan para pejuang yang disebut Saṃśaptaka, yang sentiasa memanggil (Arjuna) ke arah lain—bagaimana wira itu, pembunuh jaguh-jaguh musuh, dapat dibunuh oleh Pārtha? (Maksudnya:) Arjuna kerap menangguhkan pertembungan dengan Karṇa dengan alasan, ‘Aku akan memusnahkan Saṃśaptaka dahulu, barulah kemudian aku akan membunuh Vaikartana Karṇa.’ Maka bagaimana akhirnya Arjuna menjatuhkan wira terunggul itu?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral-narrative puzzle: even the most formidable warrior can fall due to the complex interplay of vows, strategy, circumstance, and destiny. It invites reflection on how outcomes in war are not determined by prowess alone, but also by timing, obligations (like confronting the Saṃśaptakas), and the larger moral order (dharma) governing the epic.
Vaiśampāyana highlights the apparent contradiction that Arjuna long avoided a direct engagement with Karṇa, often diverted by the Saṃśaptakas who challenged him elsewhere. The verse asks how, despite these repeated deferrals and Karṇa’s reputation as a supreme chariot-duelist and slayer of heroes, Arjuna ultimately managed to kill him in the battle.