Shloka 77
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
सारथ्ये कल्पितो देवैरीशानस्य महात्मन: । तस्मिन्नारोहति क्षिप्रं स्पन्दने लोकपूजिते
sārathye kalpito devair īśānasya mahātmanaḥ | tasminn ārohati kṣipraṃ spandane lokapūjite ||
He was appointed by the gods to the office of charioteer for the great-souled Īśāna (Śiva). Therefore, mount quickly upon that Spandana, the world-honoured conveyance.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores legitimacy and duty in action: when a means (here, a revered chariot/vehicle) is sanctioned by higher authority and tradition, one should act decisively and without hesitation in fulfilling one’s appointed role.
Bhīṣma speaks, pointing out that a particular charioteer/arrangement was divinely appointed for Īśāna (Śiva), and urges the listener to mount the famed, world-honoured Spandana quickly—an exhortation to proceed promptly with the next martial step.