Shloka 39
संछिन्नभिन्नकवचं बाणैश्व विदलीकृतम् । सपुत्र निहतं दृष्टवा कर्ण राजा युधिष्ठिर:
saṁchinna-bhinna-kavacaṁ bāṇaiś ca vidalīkṛtam | sa-putraṁ nihataṁ dṛṣṭvā karṇaṁ rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Seeing Karṇa slain—his armor cut and shattered, his body torn by arrows—and seeing him lying dead together with his son, King Yudhiṣṭhira examined the scene again and again until he was fully convinced of the truth. Then he repeatedly praised both Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, acknowledging the decisive power and dharma-aligned resolve that had brought this grim outcome in the war.
संयज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights sober recognition after violence: even a righteous side must confront the reality of death and verify truth without haste. Yudhiṣṭhira’s repeated inspection reflects moral seriousness, and his praise of Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna underscores that victory in a dharma-war is attributed not merely to force but to guided resolve and right strategy—yet it remains ethically weighty.
After Karṇa’s fall, Yudhiṣṭhira comes to see the body. Observing the shattered armor and arrow-torn limbs, and noting that Karṇa lies dead along with his son, he repeatedly examines the scene until fully convinced. He then praises Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna for accomplishing what seemed nearly impossible on the battlefield.