Shloka 17
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
मध्ये सेनामुखे कर्णो5प्यवातिष्ठत दंशित: । चित्रवर्माड्भद: स्रग्वी पालयन् वाहिनीमुखम्
madhye senāmukhe karṇo 'py avātiṣṭhata daṁśitaḥ | citravarmādbhutaḥ sragvī pālayan vāhinīmukham ||
Sañjaya thưa: Ngay giữa tiền quân, Karṇa cũng đứng vững, trang bị đầy đủ và quyết liệt. Khoác giáp trụ kỳ diệu nhiều sắc, mang vòng tay và tràng hoa, chàng giữ cửa miệng trận đồ, trấn vững mũi tiên phong.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and command-responsibility in battle: a leader must hold the front line and protect the formation. It also implicitly frames war as a domain where duty and moral burden coexist—valor is praised, yet it unfolds within a larger ethical tragedy.
Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s battlefield posture: he stands at the center of the army’s front, fully armed, adorned with striking armour and a garland, guarding the opening/front of the battle-array so the vanguard remains protected and organized.