Shloka 121
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
तथा भवानपि क्षिप्रं रुद्रस्येव पितामह: । संयच्छतु हयानस्य राधेयस्य महात्मन:,वहाँ विश्वविधाता सर्वोत्कृष्ट अविनाशी पितामह भगवान् ब्रह्माने जिस प्रकार रुद्रका सारथि-कर्म किया था तथा जिस प्रकार उन पितामहने रुद्रदेवके घोड़ोंकी बागडोर सँभाली थी, उसी प्रकार आप भी शीघ्र ही इस महामनस्वी राधापुत्र कर्णके घोड़ोंको काबूमें कीजिये
tathā bhavān api kṣipraṁ rudrasyeva pitāmahaḥ | saṁyacchatu hayān asya rādheyasya mahātmanaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “So you too, quickly—like the Grandfather (Brahmā) who once performed the charioteer’s office for Rudra—take firm control of the horses of this great-souled Rādheya (Karna).” In the midst of war, the verse underscores disciplined mastery of one’s means (the steeds and chariot) as a prerequisite for righteous and effective action.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethically grounded action in crisis requires mastery over one’s instruments and impulses; here, controlling the horses symbolizes disciplined control that enables a warrior’s duty to be carried out properly.
Bhīṣma urges the charioteer to promptly restrain and manage Karna’s horses, invoking a mythic precedent—Brahmā acting as Rudra’s charioteer—to stress the importance and urgency of skilled charioteering in battle.