Shloka 86
कृपश्च भोजश्नच तवात्मजश्न ते शरैरनेकैर्युधि पाण्डवर्षभम् । महारथा: संयुगमूर्थनि स्थिता- स्तमोनुदं वारिधरा इवापतन्
kṛpaś ca bhojaś ca tavātmajaś ca te śarair anekair yudhi pāṇḍavarṣabham | mahārathāḥ saṁyugamūrdhani sthitās tamonudaṁ vāridharā ivāpatan ||
Disse Karṇa: “Kṛpa, Bhoja (Kṛtavarmā) e o teu próprio filho—esses três grandes guerreiros de carro, postados na linha de frente do choque—atingiram em batalha, com muitas flechas, o touro entre os Pāṇḍavas (Arjuna), como se massas de nuvens carregadas de chuva desabassem sobre o Dissipador das trevas, o Sol.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic ethic of kṣatriya warfare: coordinated effort, steadfastness at the battle-front, and the relentless testing of a hero’s endurance. It also underscores how even a great warrior may be assailed by many at once—suggesting that prowess is measured not only by striking but by withstanding overwhelming opposition.
Karna describes how three leading Kaurava-side warriors—Kṛpa, Kṛtavarmā, and Duryodhana—positioned at the forefront of the fight, shower Arjuna with numerous arrows. The attack is compared to rain-clouds surging upon the Sun, emphasizing both the intensity of the assault and Arjuna’s radiance as a central figure in the battle.