Shloka 51
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
प्रजानाथ! प्रबल भार्गवास्त्रसे समरांगणमें पीड़ित होनेवाले पांचालोंका महान् हाहाकार सब ओर गूँजने लगा ।। निपतद्धिर्गजै राजन्नश्वैश्षञापि सहस्रश: | रथैश्नापि नरव्याप्र नरैश्नैव समन्तत:
prajānātha! prabala-bhārgavāstrase samarāṅgaṇe pīḍita-honevāle pāñcālānāṃ mahān hāhākāraḥ sarva-ora gūñjane lagā || nipatadbhiḥ gajaiḥ rājann aśvaiś ca api sahasraśaḥ | rathaiś ca api nara-vyāghra naraiḥ eva samantataḥ ||
राजन्, सहस्रों हाथी और घोड़े गिरने लगे; रथ भी टूट-फूट गए, और नरव्याघ्र, मनुष्य भी चारों ओर सर्वत्र बिखर पड़े।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of unleashing overwhelming weapons in war: once such force is set loose, mass suffering follows, and the battlefield becomes a scene of indiscriminate ruin. It invites reflection on responsibility, restraint, and the human cost that accompanies martial prowess.
Sañjaya reports to the king that a powerful Bhārgava weapon is devastating the Pañcāla forces. Their cries fill the directions as elephants, horses, chariots, and soldiers collapse in vast numbers across the battlefield.