Shloka 29
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
असिश्रि: पट्टिशै: शूलैर्गदाभिश्न महाबला: । सूतपुत्रं जिघांसन्त: समनन््तात् पर्यवाकिरन्
asiśriḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlair gadābhiś ca mahābalāḥ | sūtaputraṃ jighāṃsantaḥ samantāt paryavākiran ||
அந்த மகாபல வீரர்கள், தேரோட்டியின் மகன் கர்ணனை கொல்லும் எண்ணத்துடன், அவனை எல்லாத் திசைகளிலும் சூழ்ந்து வாள்கள், பட்டிசங்கள், ஈட்டிகள், கதைகளால் தாக்கத் தொடங்கினர்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata concern: in war, intent (jighāṃsā—desire to kill) and method (many attacking one) raise ethical questions about fairness and dharma, even when the setting is a battlefield where violence is expected.
A group of powerful warriors closes in on Karṇa and attacks him from every direction, striking with multiple kinds of weapons—swords, battle-axes, spears, and maces—showing an intense, coordinated attempt to kill him.