धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
असिश्रि: पट्टिशै: शूलैर्गदाभिश्न महाबला: । सूतपुत्रं जिघांसन्त: समनन््तात् पर्यवाकिरन्
asiśriḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlair gadābhiś ca mahābalāḥ | sūtaputraṃ jighāṃsantaḥ samantāt paryavākiran ||
وہ زبردست جنگجو سوت پُتر کرن کو قتل کرنے کی نیت سے اسے چاروں طرف سے گھیر کر تلواروں، پٹّیشوں، نیزوں اور گداؤں سے وار کرنے لگے۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata concern: in war, intent (jighāṃsā—desire to kill) and method (many attacking one) raise ethical questions about fairness and dharma, even when the setting is a battlefield where violence is expected.
A group of powerful warriors closes in on Karṇa and attacks him from every direction, striking with multiple kinds of weapons—swords, battle-axes, spears, and maces—showing an intense, coordinated attempt to kill him.