Shloka 8
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
ब्रद्माण्यं वीर्यसम्पन्नं समरेष्वनिवर्तिनम् । कथं कर्ण युधां श्रेष्ठ योधयामास पाण्डव:,जो ब्राह्मणभक्त, पराक्रमसम्पन्न और समरभूमिमें कभी पीछे न हटनेवाला है, योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ उस कर्णके साथ भीमसेनने किस प्रकार युद्ध किया?
sañjaya uvāca |
brāhmaṇyaṁ vīryasampannaṁ samareṣv anivartinam |
kathaṁ karṇa yudhāṁ śreṣṭha yodhayāmāsa pāṇḍavaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—ब्राह्मण्यं वीर्यसम्पन्नं समरेष्वनिवर्तिनम्। कथं कर्णं युधां श्रेष्ठं योधयामास पाण्डवः॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a warrior’s public virtues—valor, steadfastness, and reverence for brāhmaṇas—shape reputation in dharma-centered literature, and it frames battle as a test of steadfast conduct (not retreating) alongside ethical identity.
Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, poses a pointed question about the encounter: how Bhīma managed to fight Karṇa, who is portrayed as exceptionally formidable and unwavering on the battlefield.