Shloka 55
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
युधामन्यु: कृप॑ विद्ध्वा धनुरस्याशु चिच्छिदे । अथान्यद् धनुरादाय कृप: शस्त्रभृतां वर:
yudhāmanyuḥ kṛpaṁ viddhvā dhanur asyāśu cicchide | athānyad dhanur ādāya kṛpaḥ śastrabhṛtāṁ varaḥ |
Sañjaya dit : Yudhāmanyu, après avoir frappé Kṛpa, trancha aussitôt son arc. Alors Kṛpa —le premier parmi les porteurs d’armes— saisit un autre arc. Dans l’échange qui suivit, il abattit l’étendard, le cocher et le parasol royal de Yudhāmanyu ; et Yudhāmanyu, grand guerrier de char, s’enfuit de ce lieu avec son char.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within kṣatriya-dharma, victory depends not only on initial success but on steadiness, quick recovery, and protection of the chariot’s supports and emblems; the fall of banner, charioteer, and parasol marks a collapse of battlefield standing and compels withdrawal.
Yudhāmanyu wounds Kṛpa and cuts his bow; Kṛpa immediately takes another bow and counters effectively, bringing down Yudhāmanyu’s standard, charioteer, and parasol, after which Yudhāmanyu retreats in his chariot.