Shloka 166
Chapter 136: Pandava Counter-Encirclement and the Vāyavya-Astra Disruption
त॑ रथेन नरश्रेष्ठं सम्पादय महारथम् । राजन! नरश्रेष्ठ कर्णको युद्धस्थलमें रथहीन खड़ा देख दुर्योधनने अपने भाई दुर्मुखसे कहा--*दुर्मुख! यह राधानन्दन कर्ण भीमसेनके द्वारा रथसे वंचित कर दिया गया है। इस महारथी नरश्रेष्ठ वीरको रथसे सम्पन्न करो”
taṁ rathena naraśreṣṭhaṁ sampādaya mahāratham | rājan! naraśreṣṭhaṁ karṇakaṁ yuddhasthale rathahīnaṁ khaḍā dṛṣṭvā duryodhanena svabhrātṛ durmukhāya uktam— “durmukha! eṣa rādhānandanaḥ karṇo bhīmasenena rathād vañcitaḥ | imaṁ mahārathiṁ naraśreṣṭhaṁ vīraṁ rathena sampādaya” ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—“ସେ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମହାରଥୀଙ୍କୁ ରଥ ଯୋଗାଇ ଦିଅ।” ରାଜନ! ଯୁଦ୍ଧକ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ କର୍ଣ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ରଥହୀନ ଦାଁଡ଼ିଥିବା ଦେଖି ଦୁର୍ଯ୍ୟୋଧନ ନିଜ ଭାଇ ଦୁର୍ମୁଖକୁ କହିଲେ—“ଦୁର୍ମୁଖ! ଏହି ରାଧାନନ୍ଦନ କର୍ଣ୍ଣକୁ ଭୀମସେନ ରଥରୁ ବଞ୍ଚିତ କରିଛି। ଏହି ବୀର ମହାରଥୀଙ୍କୁ ରଥସମ୍ପନ୍ନ କର।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid destructive war, a ruler’s duty includes sustaining allies and maintaining the fighting order; Duryodhana’s command highlights loyalty and logistical responsibility, while also raising ethical questions about prolonging violence by restoring a disabled combatant.
Karna has been deprived of his chariot by Bhima and is left standing on the battlefield. Duryodhana, seeing this, instructs his brother Durmukha to procure a chariot for Karna so he can rejoin the fight as a mahāratha.