Shloka 22
हताश्व॑ रथमुत्सज्य विकर्णस्तु महारथ: । आरुरोह रथं राजंश्रित्रसेनस्थ भारत,भरतवंशी नरेश! घोड़ोंके मारे जानेपर महारथी विकर्ण अपना रथ छोड़कर चित्रसेनके रथपर जा बैठा
hatāśvaṁ ratham utsajya vikarṇas tu mahārathaḥ | ārurōha rathaṁ rājan citrasenastha bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: When his horses had been slain, the great chariot-warrior Vikarṇa abandoned his own chariot and, O King, mounted the chariot of Citrasena. Thus the harsh pragmatics of battle are seen—amid sudden loss and confusion, a warrior must swiftly adapt to survive and to carry on his duty in combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of kṣatriya warfare, one must not collapse into helplessness when resources are lost; steadiness and swift adaptation are required to continue one’s appointed duty (svadharma) amid crisis.
Vikarṇa’s chariot becomes unusable because its horses are killed. He immediately abandons it and climbs onto Citrasena’s chariot, allowing him to remain engaged in the battle.