Shloka 8
कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62
चक्ररक्षौ तु पार्थस्य माद्रीपुत्रौ परंतपौ । तावप्यधावतां कर्ण राजानं मा वधीरिति
cakrarakṣau tu pārthasya mādrīputrau paraṁtapau | tāv apy adhāvatāṁ karṇa rājānaṁ mā vadhīr iti ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Ang dalawang anak ni Madri—si Nakula at si Sahadeva, mababangis na nagpapahirap sa kaaway—ay nakatalaga bilang mga tagapagbantay ng gulong ng karwahe (wheel-guards) ni Haring Yudhiṣṭhira, anak ni Pṛthā. Nang makita nilang sumusugod si Karṇa, sila man ay dumaluhong patungo sa kanya, upang pigilan siyang mapatay ang hari—iniingatan ang kanilang pinuno at tinutupad ang tungkulin sa gitna ng kaguluhan ng digmaan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as protective loyalty: attendants and brothers must shield the king in crisis. Ethical emphasis falls on duty-bound defense—placing the safety of the rightful leader above personal risk in the turmoil of battle.
Nakula and Sahadeva are positioned as Yudhiṣṭhira’s chariot wheel-guards. When Karṇa advances with lethal intent, they rush to confront him, determined to prevent Yudhiṣṭhira’s death.