कर्णभीमयुद्धम्
Karna–Bhīma Combat Report
इत्यासीत् सुमहाउ्छब्द: पाण्डुसैन्यस्य भारत । भारत! माननीय नरेश! पाण्डुसेनामें यह महान् कोलाहल होने लगा कि *राजा मारे गये, राजा मारे गये' ।। ततस्त्वरितमारुह्म सहदेवरथं नृप: । अपायाज्जवनैरश्वैः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:,तदनन्तर कुन्तीपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिर तुरंत ही सहदेवके रथपर आरूढ़ हो अपने वेगशाली घोड़ोंद्वारा वहाँसे हट गये
ity āsīt sumahāñ chabdaḥ pāṇḍu-sainyasya bhārata | rājā māritaḥ rājā mārita iti || tataḥ tvaritam āruhya sahadeva-rathaṃ nṛpaḥ | apāyāj javanaiḥ aśvaiḥ kuntī-putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
قال سَنْجَايَا: «يا بهاراتا، قام في جيشِ الباندافا ضجيجٌ عظيم: “قُتِلَ الملك! قُتِلَ الملك!” ثم إنّ الملكَ يُدْهِشْتِيرَا، ابنَ كُونْتِي، أسرع فركب عربةَ سَهَدِيفَا وانسحب من ذلك الموضع، تحمله خيولٌ سريعة.»
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how quickly collective fear and rumor can shake an army’s morale, and how a leader must respond decisively. It also raises an ethical tension in war: preserving the king (and thus the cause and order of the army) may require immediate withdrawal rather than impulsive engagement.
A loud cry spreads through the Pāṇḍava forces that “the king has been slain.” In response, Yudhiṣṭhira rapidly mounts Sahadeva’s chariot and departs from the spot with swift horses, indicating a sudden retreat or repositioning amid battlefield confusion.