Shloka 24
Somadatta’s Kṣātra-Dharma Accusation; Night Combat, Māyā, and the Fall of Ghaṭotkaca
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 131
तं॑ कर्णश्छादयामास शरब्रातैरनेकश: । संछाद्यमान: कर्णेन बहुधा पाण्डुनन्दन:,तब कर्णने अनेकों बार बाणसमूहोंकी वर्षा करके भीमसेनको आच्छादित कर दिया। कर्णके द्वारा बारंबार अच्छादित होते हुए पाण्डुनन्दन महारथी भीमने कर्णके धनुषको मुट्ठी पकड़नेकी जगहसे काट दिया और झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बहुत-से बाणोंद्वारा उसे घायल कर दिया
taṁ karṇaś chādayāmāsa śaravrātair anekaśaḥ | saṁchādyamānaḥ karṇena bahudhā pāṇḍunandanaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—कर्णः शरव्रातैरनेकशः तं छादयामास। कर्णेन बहुधा संछाद्यमानः पाण्डुनन्दनः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness under overwhelming force: in righteous warfare, a warrior’s honor is shown by endurance, composure, and the capacity to respond with skill rather than panic, even when the enemy’s assault is relentless.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa repeatedly showers a Pāṇḍava hero with masses of arrows, effectively ‘covering’ him. The scene depicts an intense exchange of missile warfare, emphasizing Karṇa’s aggressive pressure and the opponent’s resilience amid the barrage.