Shloka 22
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
हते कर्णे तु कौरव्या निरुत्साहा हतौजस: । अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसूभिमरद्रेशं पर्यवारयन्,कर्णके मारे जानेपर कौरव हतोत्साह होकर अपनी शक्ति खो बैठे और मद्रराज शल्यको सेनापति बनाकर उन्हें तीन अक्षौहिणी सेनाओंसे सुरक्षित रखकर उन्होंने युद्ध आरम्भ किया
hate karṇe tu kauravyā nirutsāhā hataujasaḥ | akṣauhiṇībhis tisṛbhir madrādheśaṃ paryavārayan |
Ketika Karṇa telah gugur, semangat dan kekuatan pihak Kaurava pun runtuh. Lalu mereka mengangkat Śalya, raja Madra, sebagai panglima; dengan tiga akṣauhiṇī mereka mengepung dan melindunginya, kemudian kembali melanjutkan pertempuran.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical reality of war: the fall of a key warrior can collapse collective morale, yet armies often continue out of perceived duty and loyalty under new command—raising questions about steadfastness, responsibility, and the costs of ambition.
After Karṇa’s death, the Kaurava forces become dispirited and weakened. They then install Śalya, the king of Madra, as commander and protect him with three akṣauhiṇī formations, thereby continuing the fighting.