Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
तदनन्तर राजा दुर्योधन, सुबलपुत्र शकुनि, दुःशासन, विकर्ण तथा अन्य जो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र वहाँ आये थे, उन सबने गरुड़के समान भयंकर शब्द करनेवाले रथोंपर आखरूढ़ हो गन्धर्वोकी उस सेनाका संहार आरम्भ किया ।।
tadanantaraṁ rājā duryodhanaḥ subalaputraḥ śakuniḥ duḥśāsanaḥ vikarṇaḥ tathā anye ye dhṛtarāṣṭraputrāḥ tatra āgatāḥ te sarve garuḍa-sadṛśa-bhīṣaṇa-śabda-kāribhiḥ rathaiḥ ārūḍhāḥ gandharvānāṁ tāṁ senāṁ saṁhartuṁ prārabdhavantaḥ || bhūyaś ca yodhayāmāsuḥ kṛtvā karṇam athāgrataḥ | mahatā ratha-saṅghena ratha-cāreṇa cāpy uta ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ensuite le roi Duryodhana—avec Śakuni, fils de Subala, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa et les autres fils de Dhṛtarāṣṭra arrivés en ce lieu—monta sur des chars dont le rugissement, terrible, était semblable à celui de Garuḍa, et commença le carnage de l’armée des Gandharvas. De nouveau ils poussèrent le combat, plaçant Karṇa en tête, appuyés encore par une grande masse de chars et de conducteurs.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked pride and the urge to dominate can override restraint: the Kauravas, instead of seeking a measured course, renew the assault with greater force, showing how adharma often manifests as escalation and reliance on sheer power.
Duryodhana, along with Śakuni, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa, and other Kauravas, mounts noisy, fearsome chariots and begins attacking the Gandharva army; they reorganize to fight again, placing Karṇa at the front with a large chariot contingent.