कर्णमाश्रित्य कौन्तेय धार्तराष्ट्रेण विग्रह:
karṇam āśritya kaunteya dhārtarāṣṭreṇa vigrahaḥ
Sañjaya disse: “Ó filho de Kuntī, o choque das armas foi empreendido pelo filho de Dhṛtarāṣṭra, buscando amparo em Karṇa—apoiando-se nele como seu principal esteio na guerra.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how a leader’s choices in war often hinge on dependence upon a single powerful ally. Ethically, it points to the risks of staking a cause on strength alone—when the underlying cause is adharma, reliance on might cannot secure lasting rightness or stability.
Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava side (the Dhārtarāṣṭra) engages in battle by leaning on Karṇa as its chief pillar. It signals Karṇa’s central role as Duryodhana’s main support at this stage of the war.