Shloka 23
कर्णस्य सेनापत्याभिषेकः | Karṇa’s Consecration as Commander-in-Chief
संग्रामनिर्जिताँललोकान् गमितौ द्रोणसायकै: । पुरुजित् और कुन्तिभोज दोनों सव्यसाची अर्जुनके मामा थे। द्रोणाचार्यके सायकोंने उन्हें भी उन लोकोंमें पहुँचा दिया, जो संग्राममें मारे जानेवाले वीरोंको प्राप्त होते हैं || २२ ई || अभिभू: काशिराजश्व काशिकैर्बहुभिवृत:
saṅgrāma-nirjitāṁl lokān gamitau droṇa-sāyakaiḥ | purujit aura kuntibhoja donoṁ savyasācī arjunake māmā the | droṇācārya-ke sāyakoṁ ne unheṁ bhī un lokoṁ meṁ pahuṁcā diyā, jo saṅgrāma meṁ māre jāne-vāle vīroṁ ko prāpta hote haiṁ || 22 e || abhibhūḥ kāśirājaś ca kāśikair bahubhir vṛtaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Purujit and Kuntibhoja—both maternal uncles of Arjuna, the ambidextrous archer—were sent by Droṇa’s arrows to those worlds attained by heroes who fall in battle. Likewise Abhibhū, and the king of Kāśī, surrounded by many Kāśika warriors, are named in the continuing account of the slaughter on the field—where valor is honored even as war rends kinship and duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage reflects the epic’s war-ethic: warriors who fall in righteous battle are said to attain ‘worlds’ reserved for such heroes. At the same time, it underscores the tragic cost of dharma in war—kinship (Arjuna’s maternal uncles) does not shield anyone when duty and the momentum of battle prevail.
Sañjaya reports battlefield deaths: Purujit and Kuntibhoja, identified as Arjuna’s maternal uncles, are slain by Droṇa’s arrows and are said to reach the heroic afterlife. The narration continues by mentioning Abhibhū and the king of Kāśī, surrounded by many Kāśika fighters, as the battle’s casualties and movements are being cataloged.