Shloka 41
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे । छित्त्वा च कार्मुकं तूर्ण पाण्डवस्याशु पत्रिणा
sārathiṁ cāsya bhallena preṣayāmāsa mṛtyave | chittvā ca kārmukaṁ tūrṇaṁ pāṇḍavasya āśu patriṇā | rājendra |
قال سانجيا: بسهم «بهلّا» حادّ أرسل سائق مركبته إلى حتفِه. ثم، سريعًا، قطع قوس الباندفي بسهمٍ مُريَّش. أيها الملك، إنَّ كارنا—كأنه يبتسم، بلا كبير عناء وفي لحظة وجيزة—جعل بهيماسينا الجبار المخيف بلا عربةٍ حربية.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the ethics of epic warfare, tactical precision can instantly overturn a warrior’s position: by removing the charioteer and cutting the bow, Karṇa neutralizes Bhīma’s capacity to fight effectively. It also points to the ever-present reality of mṛtyu (death) in battle—status and strength are fragile when confronted by skill and circumstance.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa strikes down the opponent’s charioteer with a bhalla-arrow and then quickly cuts the Pāṇḍava’s bow with another arrow, leaving Bhīmasena without a functioning chariot setup—effectively rendering him ‘rathahīna’ (chariotless/disabled in chariot-combat) for the moment.