Shloka 223
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
घातित: पाण्डवै: शूरै: समरे वीर्यशालिभि: । रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ जिस राधापुत्रने दुर्योधनकी वृद्धिके लिये कंकपत्रयुक्त
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ghātitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūraiḥ samare vīryaśālibhiḥ | rathīnāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sa rādheyaḥ (rādhāputraḥ) yaḥ duryodhanasya vṛddhaye kaṅkapatra-yuktaiḥ tīkṣṇa-dhārair painaiḥ bāṇa-saṃghaiḥ samastān śatrūn parājitya tebhyaḥ karaṃ vyāharat | yo divyāstravit, uttamāstra-kuśalaḥ, asmākaṃ senānāṃ rakṣitā ca | sa mahātejasvī dharmātmā vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ kathaṃ śūravīraiḥ balibhiś ca śatrubhiḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ ghātitaḥ ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: Morto em batalha pelos heroicos Pāṇḍavas, homens de força comprovada—como, pois, foi derrubado Karṇa, o resplandecente e justo Vaikartana, por aqueles inimigos bravos e poderosos? Ele era o primeiro entre os guerreiros de carro, o filho de Rādhā, que, para o aumento e vantagem de Duryodhana, subjugara todos os adversários com saraivadas de flechas agudas, de fio cortante, e deles exigira tributo. Conhecedor dos projéteis divinos, perito nas melhores armas e protetor de nossos exércitos—como pôde um tal homem ser morto pelos Pāṇḍavas?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Karṇa’s fall as a moral and narrative paradox: even a mighty, disciplined, and ‘dharmic’ warrior—skilled in divine weapons and devoted to protecting his side—can be overcome in war. It invites reflection on how loyalty, ambition, and the larger course of dharma and destiny can bring about the downfall of even the most formidable individuals.
Vaiśampāyana describes Karṇa’s stature: foremost among chariot-fighters, a master of divine missiles, and a key defender of the Kaurava forces who had subdued enemies and extracted tribute for Duryodhana’s benefit. Against this backdrop, he raises the question of how such a warrior could be slain by the Pāṇḍavas—setting up the account of the circumstances leading to Karṇa’s death.