Shloka 5
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
सेनानिवेशमार्च्छन्तं मार्गणै: क्षतविक्षतम् । यमयोर्मध्यगं वीरं शनैर्यान्तं विचेतसम्
senāniveśam ārcchantam mārgaiḥ kṣata-vikṣatam | yamayor madhyagaṃ vīraṃ śanair yāntaṃ vicetasam ||
Sinabi ni Sanjaya: “Sugatan at wasak sa mga palaso, ang bayani ay patungo sa kampo ng hukbo. Dahan-dahan siyang lumalakad, malabo ang ulirat, at dumaraan sa pagitan ng kambal na sina Nakula at Sahadeva. Noon, si Karna—ang anak ng kutsero—ay lumapit kay Haring Yudhishthira, sa hangaring paglingkuran ang kapakanan ni Duryodhana, at muli siyang tinamaan ng tatlong pambihirang husay at matatalim na palaso.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh moral tension of war: loyalty to one’s side (Karṇa acting for Duryodhana’s advantage) can drive actions that intensify suffering, even against a wounded and retreating opponent. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty versus compassion and restraint.
Yudhiṣṭhira, badly wounded and losing clarity, retreats slowly toward the camp between Nakula and Sahadeva. Karṇa comes up and, aiming to benefit Duryodhana, strikes Yudhiṣṭhira again with three sharp arrows.