Shloka 23
काकोपमोपदेशः
The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa
तामापतन्तीं सहसा धर्मराज: शितै: शरै:
tām āpatantīṁ sahasā dharmarājaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
सञ्जय उवाच—सा सहसा आपतन्तीं दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः शितैः शरैः प्रत्यविध्यत्; रणकलुषे त्वरितोऽपि प्रहारो निर्णायकबलेनैव प्रतिगृह्यते।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line highlights kṣatriya-duty in battle: when confronted by an onrushing opponent, the warrior responds with decisive, skillful force. It also underscores the ethical tension of war—swift violence can become the default response even for a figure identified with dharma.
Sañjaya reports that an unnamed feminine-referenced figure (“her”) charges suddenly, and Dharmarāja counters immediately by shooting sharp arrows at her. The verse is a brief combat snapshot within the larger Karṇa Parva battle narration.