Shloka 523
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
अभिसंहत्य कौन्तेय पदातिप्रयुतानि च । 'युद्धविषयक श्रेष्ठ बुद्धिका आश्रय लेकर तुम रथयूथपति कर्णपर चढ़ाई करो। रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ वीर! देखो
abhisaṁhatya kaunteya padātiprayutāni ca | yuddhaviṣayakaśreṣṭhabuddhikām āśritya tvaṁ rathayūthapatiṁ karṇeparaṁ caḍhāī karo | rathīnāṁ śreṣṭha vīra paśya samarabhūmau ime pracaṇḍatejasvinaḥ mahābalinaḥ ca mukhya-mukhyāḥ pañcaśataṁ rathinaḥ āyānti | ebhiḥ sārdhaṁ pañcasahasraṁ hastinaḥ daśasahasraṁ aśvāḥ ca | kuntīnandana ete sarve saṅghaṭitāḥ daśalakṣaṁ padātīn saha ānayanti ||
Sañjaya said: “O son of Kuntī, having drawn the infantry into a compact formation, take refuge in the best war-counsel and charge against Karṇa, the leader of the chariot-squadrons. O foremost of chariot-warriors, look—upon the battlefield there advance five hundred principal, blazing, mighty chariot-fighters. Along with them come five thousand elephants and ten thousand horses. O Kuntī’s son, all of these, united and well-organized, are bringing with them a host of a million foot-soldiers.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical demand of kṣatriya-dharma in war: act with disciplined organization and clear strategic intelligence rather than panic. Even amid overwhelming numbers, the warrior is urged to rely on sound counsel and purposeful leadership.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a massive, well-organized force is advancing on the battlefield. He urges the son of Kuntī (Arjuna) to form the infantry tightly and to launch an assault against Karṇa, while enumerating the approaching charioteers, elephants, horses, and foot-soldiers.