Shloka 413
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
कथमिन्द्रोपमं वीर मृत्युर्युद्धे समस्पृशत् । मैं पूछता हूँ कि युद्धमें बहुत-से दिव्यास्त्रोंकी वर्षा करते हुए इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी वीर कर्णको मृत्यु कैसे छू सकी?
katham indropamaṃ vīra mṛtyur yuddhe samaspṛśat |
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—“ମୁଁ ପଚାରୁଛି: ଯୁଦ୍ଧଭୂମିରେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ସମ ପରାକ୍ରମୀ, ଦିବ୍ୟାସ୍ତ୍ରର ବର୍ଷା କରୁଥିବା ସେ ବୀର କର୍ଣ୍ଣକୁ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ କିପରି ସ୍ପର୍ଶ କରିପାରିଲା?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary strength and divine weaponry cannot override mortality and the larger order of time (kāla) and karma; the epic invites reflection on how dharma, destiny, and prior causes shape outcomes in war.
Vaiśampāyana frames a pointed question about Karna’s fall: despite fighting like Indra and unleashing divine missiles, how could Death overtake him in the battle—setting up the explanation of the circumstances leading to Karna’s end.