Shloka 92
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
व्यायुधं नावधीच्चैनं कर्ण: कुन्त्या वच: स्मरन् । धनुषोअग्रेण तं कर्ण: सोभिद्रुत्य परामृशत्,परंतु कुन्तीके वचनका स्मरण करके उसने शस्त्रहीन भीमसेनका वध नहीं किया। कर्णने उनके पास जाकर अपने धनुषकी नोकसे उनका स्पर्श किया
vyāyudhaṃ nāvadhīc cainaṃ karṇaḥ kuntyā vacaḥ smaran | dhanuṣo 'greṇa taṃ karṇaḥ so 'bhidrutya parāmṛśat |
कुन्त्याः वचः स्मरन् कर्णो व्यायुधं तं न जघान; अभिद्रुत्य तु तस्य समीपं धनुषोऽग्रेण तं स्पृष्टवान्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous fury of battle, dharma can require restraint: Karṇa honors a prior moral commitment (Kuntī’s words) and refuses to kill an unarmed opponent, choosing a symbolic gesture instead of lethal force.
Bhīma is momentarily without weapons. Karṇa, though capable of killing him, recalls Kuntī’s instruction and does not strike to kill; he approaches and touches Bhīma with the tip of his bow, marking dominance without violating his restraint.