Shloka 12
तथैव राजन् कर्णो5पि पार्षतं शत्रुतापनम्
sañjaya uvāca | tathaiva rājan karṇo 'pi pārṣataṁ śatrutāpanam viṣadhara-sarpavat viṣaileṣubhir bāṇair āchādayām āsa | punaś ca droṇaśatruḥ mahādhanurdharaḥ dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi karṇaṁ tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ kṣatam akarot |
Sabi ni Sañjaya: “O Hari, gayon din, tinakpan ni Karṇa si Dhṛṣṭadyumna—ang anak ni Prishata, tagapagpahirap sa mga kaaway—sa larangan ng digmaan ng mga palasong makamandag, tila ahas na may lason. Pagkaraan, si Dhṛṣṭadyumna, ang pumatay kay Droṇa at isang makapangyarihang mamamana, ay gumanti at sinugatan si Karṇa sa pamamagitan ng matutulis na palaso.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless reciprocity of violence in war: even the greatest warriors alternately overpower and are overpowered. It implicitly underscores the Mahabharata’s ethical tension—kshatriya valor and duty operate within a tragic cycle where skill and fury do not guarantee moral clarity or lasting victory.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Karna showers Dhrishtadyumna with venom-like arrows, overwhelming him. Immediately afterward, Dhrishtadyumna—renowned as Drona’s slayer—counterattacks and wounds Karna with sharp arrows, showing the back-and-forth intensity of the duel.