Shloka 133
Karṇa-vadha-pratyaya: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Verification of Karṇa’s Fall (कर्णवध-प्रत्ययः)
निमग्नं तं रथं मत्वा नेदु: संशप्तका मुदा । सेनाओंकी उस विशाल भँवरमें जो पातालतलके समान प्रतीत होता था, अर्जुनके उस रथको निमग्न हुआ मानकर संशप्तक सैनिक प्रसन्न हो सिंहनाद करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca |
nimagnaṃ taṃ rathaṃ matvā neduḥ saṃśaptakā mudā |
Sañjaya dijo: “Creyendo que su carro se había hundido, los guerreros Saṃśaptaka clamaron de alegría. Al tomar por anegado el carro de Arjuna en el vasto remolino de ejércitos —tan hondo e ineludible como el inframundo— alzaron rugidos triunfales, mostrando cuán pronto, en el campo de batalla, la percepción se trueca en certeza moral y celebración, aun antes de conocerse la verdad.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, people often convert incomplete perception into confident judgment and moral celebration. It cautions that triumph based on assumption can be premature, and that emotional reactions—especially joy at an enemy’s supposed downfall—may arise before facts are verified.
In the dense, swirling clash of armies, the Saṃśaptakas believe Arjuna’s chariot has been submerged/overwhelmed. Taking this as a sign of his defeat, they shout and roar in delight, proclaiming victory even though it is only their assumption.