Shloka 31
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
अजातशशम्रुमुत्सज्य माद्रीपुत्री च पाण्डवौ । तव पुत्र परित्रातुम भ्यधावत वीर्यवान्
ajātaśaśmrum utsṛjya mādrīputrau ca pāṇḍavau | tava putra-paritrātuṁ abhyadhāvat vīryavān pṛthvīnātha ||
Санджая сказал: О владыка земли, оставив Аджаташатру (Юдхиштхиру) и двух сыновей Мадри — Накулу и Сахадеву, — могучий воин поспешил защитить твоего сына.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how loyalty and immediate duty in war can override other engagements: Karṇa prioritizes protecting his ally-king Duryodhana when he sees him endangered, showing the kṣatriya ethic of safeguarding one’s leader—while also illustrating how counsel (Śalya’s prompting) can redirect a warrior’s choices amid moral and tactical pressure.
In the thick of battle, Duryodhana is being overwhelmed by Bhīma. Hearing Śalya’s words and seeing the danger, Karṇa breaks off from confronting Yudhiṣṭhira and the twins Nakula–Sahadeva, and rushes to defend Duryodhana.