Shloka 67
कर्ण ससूतं सरथं सकेतु- मदृश्यमण्जोगतिभश्ि: प्रचक्रे । तदनन्तर सवारोंसहित हजारों घोड़ों और सहस््रों पैदल वीरोंको मारकर रथ, सारथि और ध्वजसहित कर्णको भी शीघ्रगामी बाणोंद्वारा ढककर अदृश्य कर दिया ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
karṇaṃ sasūtaṃ sarathaṃ saketuṃ adṛśyam añjogatibhiḥ pracakre |
tad-anantaraṃ savāroṃsahitaṃ sahasrāṇi aśvān sahasrāṇi ca padātivīrān hatvā ratha-sārathi-dhvajasahitaṃ karṇam api śīghragāmibhir bāṇair dhakvā adṛśyaṃ cakāra ||
athākrośan kuravo vadhyamānā dhanañjayenādhirathiṃ samantāt ||
Sañjaya dit : Arjuna couvrit Karṇa—avec son cocher, son char et son étendard—d’une grêle de flèches au vol rapide, au point de le faire disparaître aux regards. Auparavant, il avait abattu des milliers de cavaliers avec leurs montures et des milliers de fantassins. Tandis que les troupes de Karṇa étaient fauchées de toutes parts par Dhanañjaya, les Kauravas poussèrent des cris de détresse. La scène met en relief la sombre éthique du devoir guerrier : la prouesse s’exerce sans hésitation, mais la souffrance du grand nombre devient aussitôt le poids moral de la guerre.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: a warrior’s duty demands decisive action and mastery, yet the immediate human cost—armies falling and allies crying out—reveals the ethical gravity that accompanies martial excellence.
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) unleashes a dense volley of swift arrows, killing large numbers of mounted and foot soldiers and then completely covering Karṇa—along with his chariot, charioteer, and banner—so that Karṇa is momentarily hidden from view; the Kauravas, being slaughtered on all sides, cry out.