Shloka 42
अमोघशक्तिव्यंसनप्रश्नः — Why Karṇa’s Śakti Was Not Used on Arjuna
एवमुक्त्वा पलायन्ते सर्वे भारत पार्थिवा: । विसंज्ञा वाहयन् वाहान् न च द्वौ सह धावत:
evam uktvā palāyante sarve bhārata pārthivāḥ | visaṁjñā vāhayan vāhān na ca dvau saha dhāvataḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : « Après avoir parlé ainsi, tous ces rois de l’armée des Bhārata prirent la fuite. Dans un état de stupeur, ils poussaient leurs chevaux et couraient avec une telle panique que pas même deux d’entre eux ne restaient ensemble. »
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can dissolve solidarity and discipline in war: when leaders and warriors lose composure, even basic cohesion (“not even two together”) collapses, illustrating the ethical and practical cost of panic.
After a preceding statement (evam uktvā), the Bhārata-side kings break formation and flee. In their stunned state they drive their horses wildly, scattering so completely that no pair remains together while running.