Shloka 7
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
त॑ चित्रसेनो विशिखेर्विपाठै: संग्रामजिच्छत्रुसहो जयश्न । प्रत्युद्ययुर्भारतमापतलन्तं महारथा: कर्णमभीप्समाना:
tatra citraseno viśikha-vipāṭhaiḥ saṅgrāmajic chatrusahaḥ jayaś ca | pratyudyayur bhāratam āpatantaṃ mahārathāḥ karṇam abhīpsamānāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Noon din, sina Citrāsena, Saṅgrāmajit, Śatrusaha, Jaya, at iba pang mga dakilang mandirigmang karwahe, habang nagbubuhos ng ulang-palaso na matatalim, ay sumulong upang salubungin ang rumaragasa na anak ni Bharata—si Arjuna. Ang layon nila’y tabingan at ipagtanggol si Karṇa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of standing by one’s side in battle: warriors advance to protect an ally (Karṇa) and meet an attacker (Arjuna) directly, emphasizing loyalty, courage, and the martial duty to defend one’s leader and formation.
As Arjuna charges into the fight, several named warriors—Citrāsena, Saṅgrāmajit, Śatrusaha, Jaya, and others—rush forward, firing volleys of arrows, to confront him and thereby safeguard Karṇa from Arjuna’s assault.