Shloka 37
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca
श्रीकृष्ण बोले--अर्जुन! युद्धमें विजय और सब ओर फैले हुए महान् सुयशकी अभिलाषा रखनेवाले ये शूरवीर भूपाल तुम्हारे बाणोंसे मरकर पृथ्वीपर सो रहे हैं ।। विकीर्णशस्त्राभरणा विपन्नाश्वरथद्विपा: । संछिन्नभिन्नमर्माणो वैक्लव्यं परमं गता:,इनके अस्त्र-शस्त्र और आभूषण बिखरे पड़े हैं, घोड़े, रथ और हाथी नष्ट हो गये हैं तथा मर्मस्थल छिन्न-भिन्न हो जानेके कारण ये नरेश भारी व्याकुलतामें पड़ गये हैं
śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca—arjuna! yuddhe vijayaṃ ca sarvataḥ prasṛtaṃ mahatsuyaśaś ca abhilaṣamāṇā ime śūrā bhūpālāḥ tava bāṇair hatvā pṛthivyāṃ śerate. vikīrṇaśastrābharaṇā vipannāśvarathadvipāḥ, saṃchinnabhinna-marmāṇo vaiklavyaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “Arjuna, these heroic kings—longing for victory in battle and for great fame spread in every direction—have been struck down by your arrows and now lie upon the earth. Their weapons and ornaments are scattered; their horses, chariots, and elephants are destroyed; and with their vital points torn and shattered, they have fallen into the utmost helplessness.”
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kṛṣṇa highlights the stark outcome of war: those driven by victory and fame end in ruin and helplessness. The verse underscores the impermanence of worldly glory and the grave ethical weight of battlefield ambition, even within kṣatriya duty.
On the battlefield in Droṇa Parva, Kṛṣṇa addresses Arjuna, pointing to the slain kings. He describes their scattered arms and ornaments and the destruction of their mounts and vehicles, emphasizing their complete defeat and collapse.