Shloka 96
Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
समीपस्थं मद्रराजमारोह त्वमथाब्रवीत् । रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कर्णने वेदज्ञ पुरोहितद्वारा पहलेसे ही जिसका मांगलिक कृत्य सम्पन्न कर दिया गया था
saṃjaya uvāca | samīpasthaṃ madrarājam āroha tvam athābravīt | rathiyom̐ meṃ śreṣṭhaḥ karṇo veda-jña-purohitena pūrvam eva yasya māṅgalika-kṛtyaṃ sampāditaṃ āsīt, tasya rathasya vidhi-pūrvakaṃ pūjāṃ ca pradakṣiṇāṃ ca cakāra | tataḥ sūryadevaṃ prayatna-pūrvakam upasthāya samīpe sthitaṃ madrarājaṃ uvāca— ‘pūrvaṃ bhavān ratham ārohatu’ iti |
संजय उवाच—अथ समीपस्थं मद्रराजं कर्णोऽब्रवीत्—“आरुह्यतां भवान् पूर्वं रथम्।” रथिनां श्रेष्ठः कर्णो वेदविदा पुरोहितेन पूर्वमेव कृतमाङ्गल्यकर्मणः तस्य रथस्य विधिवत् पूजां प्रदक्षिणां च कृत्वा, ततः प्रयत्नतः सूर्यदेवमुपतस्थे; अनन्तरं समीपस्थितं मद्रराजं पुनरब्रवीत्—“भवान् पूर्वं रथमारुह्यताम्।”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, conduct is framed by dharma: Karna observes auspicious rites, honors his deity (Sūrya), and shows formal respect to an ally-king (Śalya) by inviting him to mount first—illustrating discipline, reverence, and protocol before action.
Before setting out, Karna’s chariot—already consecrated by a learned priest—is ritually worshiped and circumambulated. Karna then pays homage to the Sun-god and addresses the nearby king of Madra (Śalya), requesting that he ascend the chariot first.