Shloka 3
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
गौतमस्य रथं दृष्टवा धृष्टद्युम्नरथं प्रति । वित्रेसु: सर्वभूतानि क्षयं प्राप्तं च मेनिरे
gautamasya rathaṁ dṛṣṭvā dhṛṣṭadyumna-rathaṁ prati | vitresuḥ sarvabhūtāni kṣayaṁ prāptaṁ ca menire ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als man den Wagen Gautamas (Kṛpācāryas) auf den Wagen Dhṛṣṭadyumnas zustürmen sah, erbebten alle Wesen vor Furcht und meinten, Dhṛṣṭadyumna habe sein Verderben bereits gefunden.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective perception in war is driven by fear and the established prowess of warriors: people often assume an outcome (destruction) based on who advances against whom, reminding readers to distinguish between reputation-based judgment and actual dharmic discernment.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛpācārya (called ‘Gautama’) drives his chariot toward Dhṛṣṭadyumna’s chariot. Observers tremble and presume Dhṛṣṭadyumna is as good as slain, anticipating a decisive clash.