Shloka 52
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
भीमसेनं तव सुतो वारयामास संयुगे | तं तु भीमो मुहूर्तेन व्यश्वसूतरथध्वजम्
sañjaya uvāca | bhīmasenaṃ tava suto vārayāmāsa saṃyuge | taṃ tu bhīmo muhūrtena vyaśvasūtarathadhvajam cakre | lokeśvaraṃ tatra tenātuṣyanta vai janāḥ |
Sañjaya dit : Au plus fort du combat, ton fils voulut arrêter Bhīmasena. Mais Bhīma, en un bref instant, dépouilla Duryodhana—maître des hommes en ce lieu—de ses chevaux, de son cocher, de son char et de son étendard. Voyant ainsi le roi orgueilleux rabaissé, les témoins en éprouvèrent une vive satisfaction : c’était, sur le champ de bataille, un triomphe passager de la prouesse sur l’arrogance.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield success can swiftly overturn royal pride: even a powerful king can be reduced to vulnerability in moments. It also shows how public sentiment in war often follows visible signs of dominance—such as disabling an opponent’s chariot—rather than deeper ethical reflection.
Duryodhana confronts and attempts to stop Bhīma in combat. Bhīma quickly disables Duryodhana’s chariot setup—horses, charioteer, chariot, and banner—leaving him effectively chariotless. Observers rejoice at this reversal.