Shloka 513
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
स कथं निहतो वीर: पार्थेन परवीरहा । 'संशप्तकोंमेंसे जो योद्धा सदा मुझे दूसरी ओर युद्धके लिये बुलाया करते हैं, इन्हें पहले मारकर पीछे वैकर्तन कर्णका रणभूमिमें वध करूँगा।” ऐसा बहाना बनाकर अर्जुन जिस सूतपुत्रको युद्धस्थलमें छोड़ दिया करते थे, उसी शत्रुवीरोंके संहारक वीरवर कर्णको अर्जुनने किस प्रकार मारा?
sa kathaṁ nihato vīraḥ pārthena paravīrahā |
毗舍ṃ波耶那说道：“那位屠戮敌方豪杰的英雄——迦尔纳——竟如何被帕尔塔（阿周那）所杀？因为阿周那屡次推延与这位御者之子的正面交锋，借口说：‘先诛灭那些常常向我挑战的誓死战士（Saṃśaptaka）；随后我再在战场上杀死瓦伊迦尔塔那·迦尔纳。’那么，阿周那究竟以何种方式，终于击倒了那位最上战士、摧折敌方英雄的迦尔纳？”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical-narrative tension: a renowned hero (Karna) is not merely defeated, but his death demands explanation because of his stature and Arjuna’s earlier postponements. It invites reflection on how vows, strategy, and circumstance intersect with dharma in war—especially when the fall of a great warrior seems to require moral and causal clarification.
The narrator (Vaiśaṃpāyana) poses a pointed question: despite Arjuna repeatedly claiming he would first eliminate the Saṃśaptakas and only then kill Karna, how did Arjuna actually manage to slay Karna, the famed destroyer of enemy champions? The verse functions as a transition into the account of Karna’s death.