Shloka 13
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
रथैर्तताश्वसूतैश्व हतारोहैश्वन वाजिभि: । द्विरदैश्व॒ हतारोहैर्महामात्रैरहतद्विपै:,रथोंके घोड़े और सारथि मार दिये गये। घोड़ोंके सवार नष्ट हो गये। गजारोही मार डाले गये और हाथी बचे रहे एवं कहीं हाथी ही मार डाले गये तथा महावत बचे रहे। राजन! इस प्रकार समरांगणमें अर्जुनने घोर जनसंहार मचा दिया। उनके धनुषसे छूटे हुए बाणोंद्वारा मारे जाकर बहुत-से रथी धराशायी हो गये
sañjaya uvāca |
rathair hatāśvasūtaiś ca hatārohāś ca vājibhiḥ |
dviradaiś ca hatārohā mahāmātrair ahatadvipaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “On the battlefield, O King, Arjuna’s shafts brought about a dreadful slaughter. Some chariots were left with their horses and charioteers slain; elsewhere the horsemen were cut down. In some places the elephant-riders were killed while the great mahouts survived with their elephants; in other places the elephants themselves were felled while the mahouts remained. Thus, by the arrows released from his bow, many chariot-warriors were struck down and fell to the earth.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of war: even when fought as kṣatriya-duty, battle produces indiscriminate and uneven destruction—sometimes the mount survives while the rider dies, sometimes the reverse. It highlights the ethical tension between martial excellence and the human cost of violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s archery is causing chaotic devastation in the ranks: chariots are rendered useless by killing horses and charioteers, cavalry riders are cut down, and elephant units are disrupted with either riders or elephants being slain. Many warriors fall under the barrage of Arjuna’s arrows.