Shloka 9
कर्णेन व्यूहविधानम् — Karṇa’s Battle Formation and the Pāṇḍava Counter-Plan
Adhyāya 31
'जैसे ब्रह्माजीनी सारथि बनकर महादेवजीकी रक्षा की थी और जैसे सब प्रकारकी आपत्तियोंसे श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुनकी रक्षा करते हैं, उसी प्रकार आप कर्णकी सर्वथा रक्षा कीजिये। मद्रराज! आज आप राधापुत्रका प्रतिपालन कीजिये ।।
sañjaya uvāca | yathā brahmā sārathir bhūtvā mahādevasya rakṣām akarot, yathā ca sarvavidha-āpadbhyaḥ śrīkṛṣṇo 'rjunasya rakṣāṃ karoti, tathā tvaṃ karṇasya sarvathā rakṣāṃ kuru | madrarāja! adya tvaṃ rādhāputrasya pratipālanaṃ kuru || bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ karṇo bhavān bhojaś ca vīryavān | śakuniḥ saubalo drauṇir aham eva ca no balam ||
Sañjaya disse: “Assim como Brahmā outrora se fez cocheiro e salvaguardou Mahādeva (Śiva), e assim como Śrī Kṛṣṇa protege Arjuna de toda espécie de perigo, assim também deves proteger Karṇa de todas as maneiras. Ó rei de Madra, hoje deves agir como guardião do filho de Rādhā (Karna). Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, tu (Śalya), o valente Bhoja Kṛtavarmā, Śakuni filho de Subala, Aśvatthāmā filho de Droṇa, e eu—somente estes são a nossa força.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of guardianship in war: a leader must actively protect those placed under his charge, using vigilance and skill, just as exemplary divine protectors are remembered for safeguarding allies in crisis.
Sañjaya reports an appeal to Śalya (king of Madra), urging him to protect Karṇa as his charioteer and supporter, and then enumerates the principal warriors who constitute the Kauravas’ remaining effective strength.