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 ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：“那位以车战决斗闻名的英雄并未前来正面相斗——他又怎会在战场上被杀？又那些名为‘三誓军’（Saṃśaptaka）的战士，屡屡在别处牵制并挑战（阿周那）——那位屠戮敌方豪杰的英雄，竟如何被帕尔塔所杀？（其意是：）阿周那常以借口推延与迦尔纳相会：‘我先歼灭三誓军，然后才杀毗迦尔塔那·迦尔纳。’那么，阿周那最终究竟如何击倒那位首屈一指的战士？”
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.