Shloka 89
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
(राजानं च महाबाहुं पीडयन्त्यात्तमन्यव: । राधेयो बहुभि: सार्थमसौ गच्छति वेगत: ।। वर्जयित्वा तु भीम॑ तं॑ पार्श्वतो ह्ानयन् धनु: । त॑ पालयन् महाराजं धार्तराष्ट्रं बलान्वित: ।।) 'पाण्डव-सैनिक क्रोधमें भरकर महाबाहु दुर्योधनको पीड़ा दे रहे हैं। बलशाली राधापुत्र कर्ण भीमसेनको छोड़कर बगलमें धनुष लिये महाराज दुर्योधनकी रक्षाके लिये बहुतेरे सैनिकोंके साथ वेगपूर्वक उसके पास जा रहा है।' संजय उवाच ४ 28६ त्वा महाबाहुर्वासुदेवाद् धनंजय: । भीमसनेन तत् कर्म कृतं दृष्टवा सुदुष्करम्
rājānaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ pīḍayanty āttamanyavaḥ | rādheyo bahubhiḥ sārtham asau gacchati vegataḥ || varjayitvā tu bhīmaṃ taṃ pārśvato hānayan dhanuḥ | taṃ pālayan mahārājaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ balānvitaḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: As tropas dos Pāṇḍava, tomadas pela ira, apertavam duramente o rei Duryodhana, de braços poderosos, causando-lhe aflição. Vendo isso, Rādheya (Karna), forte e resoluto, correu veloz até ele com muitos guerreiros, mantendo o arco ao lado; deixando Bhīma deliberadamente de parte, avançou para proteger o rei Dhārtarāṣṭra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds battlefield dharma as understood by warriors: protection of one’s king and ally is treated as a paramount obligation. Karna’s choice to set aside a direct engagement with Bhīma and instead rush to defend Duryodhana illustrates loyalty and prioritization of duty amid personal enmities.
The Pāṇḍava forces, enraged, are overwhelming and distressing Duryodhana. Karna, accompanied by many fighters, hastens toward Duryodhana to guard him, keeping his bow ready, and intentionally does not engage Bhīma at that moment.