Shloka 90
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
के कर्ण न जहु: शूरा: के क्षुद्रा: प्राद्रवंस्तत: । कथ॑ं च व: समेतानां हत: कर्णो महारथ:,किन शूरवीरोंने कर्णका साथ नहीं छोड़ा? और कौन-कौन-से नीच सैनिक वहाँसे भाग गये? तुम सब लोग जब एक साथ होकर लड़ रहे थे, तब महारथी कर्ण कैसे मारा गया?
ke karṇa na jahuḥ śūrāḥ ke kṣudrāḥ prādravan tataḥ | kathaṃ ca vaḥ sametānāṃ hataḥ karṇo mahārathaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Karṇa, pahlawan gagah manakah yang tidak meninggalkanmu, dan orang-orang hina manakah yang melarikan diri dari tempat itu? Dan bagaimana mungkin maharathi Karṇa terbunuh, sedangkan kamu semua berhimpun dan bertempur sebagai satu?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts steadfast courage with ignoble flight, implying an ethical evaluation of conduct in crisis: true valor is shown by loyalty and perseverance, while cowardice fractures collective strength. It also raises the moral puzzle of how even a ‘mahāratha’ can fall despite allied support, pointing to the limits of mere numbers against destiny, strategy, and dharma.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the war events, asks for a detailed account surrounding Karṇa’s final moments: which warriors remained with him, which soldiers fled, and by what circumstances Karṇa was killed even though his side was fighting in a gathered formation.