Shloka 14
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
ते शूरा: समरे सर्वे चित्र॑ं लघु च सुष्ठु च अयुध्यन्त महावेगा: परस्परवधैषिण:,वे महान् वेगशाली समस्त शूरवीर समरांगणमें एक-दूसरेके वधकी इच्छासे विचित्र, शीघ्रतापूर्ण तथा सुन्दर रीतिसे युद्ध करने लगे
te śūrāḥ samare sarve citraṃ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca | ayudhyanta mahāvegāḥ parasparavadha-eṣiṇaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: All jene Helden, gewaltig an Schnelligkeit und Kraft, begannen auf dem Schlachtfeld zu kämpfen—sie schlugen in mannigfachen Mustern zu, schnell und meisterhaft ausgeführt—jeder getrieben von dem Verlangen, den anderen zu töten.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a central Mahābhārata tension: martial excellence and disciplined skill can coexist with ethically troubling intent. Even when combat is performed 'well' and 'beautifully,' the motivating drive—mutual killing—reveals the tragic moral cost of war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the assembled heroes have fully engaged in battle. They fight with great speed and force, employing varied and skillful maneuvers, each intent on the other's death.