Karna is protecting Kripacharya, Kritavarman and Ashvatthama, while those great warriors are protecting the king Duryodhana in their turn; and unless we resist them they will cause a massacre among the Somakas.
कृपुश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रौणिश्चैव महारथः॥ एते रक्षान्ति राजानं सूतपूत्रेण रक्षिताः। अवध्यमानास्तेऽस्माभिर्घातयिष्यन्ति सोमकान्॥