कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
रथश्न विहितोस्माभिरवविंचित्रायुधसंवृत: । सारथिं च न जानीम: क: स्यात् तस्मिन् रथोत्तमे,“हमने उनके लिये विचित्र आयुधोंसे सम्पन्न रथ तैयार कर दिया है; परंतु उस उत्तम रथपर कौन सारथि होकर बैठेगा? यह हम नहीं जानते हैं'
rathaś ca vihito 'smābhir avavicitrāyudhasaṃvṛtaḥ | sārathiṃ ca na jānīmaḥ kaḥ syāt tasmin rathottame ||
Duryodhana dijo: «Hemos mandado preparar un carro—plenamente equipado y resguardado con un conjunto de armas extraordinarias. Pero quién se sentará en ese carro excelso como su auriga, eso no lo sabemos».
दुर्योधन उवाच
Material readiness—arms, armor, and an excellent chariot—does not by itself secure success; effective action in war also depends on competent guidance and coordination. The verse highlights the ethical and practical weight of choosing the right sārathi: leadership is not merely possession of resources but the wise deployment of them through capable persons.
In the Karṇa Parva context, Duryodhana speaks about having arranged a superb, weapon-laden chariot for a key warrior, but admits uncertainty about who will serve as its charioteer. The line reflects a moment of logistical and strategic concern within the Kaurava camp, where the availability of a suitable sārathi becomes crucial to battlefield effectiveness.