Shloka 21
ततः संचुक्षुभे सैन्यं कुरूणां राक्षसार्दितम् । उपर्युपरि चान्योन्यं चतुरडूं ममर्द ह,अभियाति द्रुतं कर्ण तद् वारय महारथम् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन! युद्धस्थलमें इस प्रकार कर्णका वध करनेकी इच्छासे उद्यत हुए घटोत्कचको सूतपुत्रके रथकी ओर आते देख आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने दःशासनसे इस प्रकार कहा--'भाई! यह राक्षस रणभूमिमें कर्णका वेगपूर्वक पराक्रम देखकर तीव्र गतिसे उसपर आक्रमण कर रहा है; अतः उस महारथी घटोत्कचको रोको उस राक्षससे पीड़ित हुई सम्पूर्ण चतुरंगिणी कौरव-सेना विक्षुब्ध हो उठी और आपसमें ही एक-दूसरेको नष्ट करने लगी
tataḥ sañcukṣubhe sainyaṃ kurūṇāṃ rākṣasārditam | uparyupari cānyonyaṃ caturaṅgaṃ mamarda ha | abhiyāti drutaṃ karṇa taṃ vārayā mahāratham |
Sanjaya said: Then the Kuru army, harried by the rākṣasa, was thrown into turmoil. Pressing upon one another from above and all around, the fourfold host began to crush itself in confusion. “Karna is being charged at swiftly—stop that great chariot-warrior!”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical insight of the Mahābhārata: in war, loss of discipline and clarity (often born of fear) becomes self-destructive. An army can collapse from internal disorder, showing that leadership and steadiness are as decisive as weapons.
Sanjaya describes the Kaurava host being shaken and crushed in confusion due to the rākṣasa’s assault (contextually Ghaṭotkaca). A command is voiced to stop the great warrior who is charging swiftly at Karna, indicating an urgent attempt to protect Karna and restore order.