Shloka 8
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
चक्ररक्षौ तु पार्थस्य माद्रीपुत्रौ परंतपौ । तावप्यधावतां कर्ण राजानं मा वधीरिति,शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले माद्रीकुमार नकुल और सहदेव राजा युधिष्छिरके चक्ररक्षक थे। वे दोनों भी यह सोचकर कर्णकी ओर दौड़े कि यह राजा युधिष्ठिरका वध न कर डाले
cakrarakṣau tu pārthasya mādrīputrau paraṁtapau | tāv apy adhāvatāṁ karṇa rājānaṁ mā vadhīr iti ||
Sañjaya disse: Os dois filhos de Mādrī—Nakula e Sahadeva, ferozes afligidores dos inimigos—estavam postados como guardas das rodas do carro (wheel-guards) do rei Yudhiṣṭhira, filho de Pṛthā. Vendo Karṇa avançar com ímpeto, eles também correram ao seu encontro, decididos a impedi-lo de matar o rei—protegendo o soberano e sustentando o dever em meio ao caos da guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as protective loyalty: attendants and brothers must shield the king in crisis. Ethical emphasis falls on duty-bound defense—placing the safety of the rightful leader above personal risk in the turmoil of battle.
Nakula and Sahadeva are positioned as Yudhiṣṭhira’s chariot wheel-guards. When Karṇa advances with lethal intent, they rush to confront him, determined to prevent Yudhiṣṭhira’s death.