Shloka 50
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
नागमद् द्वैरथं वीर: स कथं निहतो रणे । जिसे देवराज इन्द्रने दो कुण्डलोंके बदलेमें विद्युतके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाली तथा शत्रुओंका नाश करनेमें समर्थ सुवर्णभूषित दिव्य शक्ति प्रदान की थी
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
nāgamad dvairathaṃ vīraḥ sa kathaṃ nihato raṇe |
saṃśaptakānāṃ yodhā ye āhvayanta sadānyataḥ |
sa kathaṃ nihato vīraḥ pārthena paravīrahā ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: “Ang bayaning iyon, bantog sa mga tunggaliang karwahe-sa-karwahe, ay hindi nakipagduwelo nang tuwiran—kung gayon, paano siya napatay sa digmaan? At ang mga mandirigmang tinatawag na Saṃśaptaka, na palaging humahamon kay (Arjuna) sa ibang dako—paano napatay ni Pārtha ang bayaning iyon, ang mamumuksa ng mga kampeon ng kaaway? (Ang diwa ay:) Madalas ipagpaliban ni Arjuna ang pagharap kay Karṇa sa dahilang, ‘Uunahin kong lipulin ang Saṃśaptaka, saka ko papatayin si Vaikartana Karṇa.’ Paano nga ba sa huli napabagsak ni Arjuna ang pinakadakilang mandirigmang iyon?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral-narrative puzzle: even the most formidable warrior can fall due to the complex interplay of vows, strategy, circumstance, and destiny. It invites reflection on how outcomes in war are not determined by prowess alone, but also by timing, obligations (like confronting the Saṃśaptakas), and the larger moral order (dharma) governing the epic.
Vaiśampāyana highlights the apparent contradiction that Arjuna long avoided a direct engagement with Karṇa, often diverted by the Saṃśaptakas who challenged him elsewhere. The verse asks how, despite these repeated deferrals and Karṇa’s reputation as a supreme chariot-duelist and slayer of heroes, Arjuna ultimately managed to kill him in the battle.