Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 1
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका ह “लोक मिलाकर कुल ४६३ “लोक हैं) मा अहम चतुष्पठ्चाशत्तमोड ध्याय: कृपाचार्यके द्वारा शिखण्डीकी पराजय और सुकेतुका वध तथा धृष्टद्युम्नके द्वारा कृतवर्माका परास्त होना संजय उवाच कृतवर्मा कृपो द्रौणि: सूतपुत्रश्न मारिष | उलूक: सौबलश्चैव राजा च सह सोदरै:
sañjaya uvāca | kṛtavarmā kṛpo drauṇiḥ sūtaputraś ca māriṣa | ulūkaḥ saubalaś caiva rājā ca saha sodaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „O Ehrwürdiger! O König! Kṛtavarmā, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā, der Sohn Droṇas, und Karṇa, der Sohn des Wagenlenkers; Ulūka und Śakuni, der Sohn Subalas; und König Duryodhana mit seinen Brüdern — diese Helden traten hervor (um das Heer zu sammeln und zu stützen).“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the Mahābhārata: armies can collapse through fear, and leaders are expected to restore courage and order. Even within an unrighteous war, the narrative underscores the kṣatriya ideal of steadiness, protection of one’s troops, and decisive leadership in crisis.
Sañjaya begins the chapter by naming key Kaurava champions—Kṛtavarmā, Kṛpa, Aśvatthāmā, Karṇa, Ulūka, Śakuni, and Duryodhana with his brothers—who rally together. In the surrounding context (as reflected in the Gītā Press prose), they move swiftly to rescue and stabilize the Kaurava army as it falters in fear of Arjuna.