Shloka 45
कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke
गन्धर्वनगराकारान् रथांश्वैव सुकल्पितान् । विनीतैर्जवनैर्युक्तानास्थितान् युद्धदुर्मदै:
sañjaya uvāca | gandharvanagarākārān rathāṁś caiva sukalpitān | vinītair javanair yuktān āsthitān yuddha-durmadān ||
Sañjaya dit : Dhananjaya (Arjuna), faisant pleuvoir ses flèches sur l’ennemi, mit en pièces ces chars admirablement construits—semblables, par leur forme, à la cité merveilleuse des Gandharvas—tirés par des chevaux rapides et bien dressés, et montés par des guerriers ivres de l’orgueil du combat. Dans le même assaut, il abattit aussi les cavaliers parés et les fantassins.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical warning against yuddha-durmada—battle-born arrogance. Splendor, numbers, and pride do not protect one in adharma-driven conflict; disciplined prowess and steadfast purpose can overturn even impressive military displays.
Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s battlefield action: he rains arrows, breaks apart well-equipped chariots drawn by trained swift horses and ridden by war-proud fighters, and he also fells decorated cavalry and infantry.