Shloka 44
अर्जुनस्य गुरुधर्मविलापः तथा शैनेयकर्णयोर्युद्धारम्भः | Arjuna’s Lament on Guru-Dharma and the Opening of the Sātyaki–Karṇa Duel
वातायमानैस्तैरश्वैरपानीयत संगरात् । प्रभो! उस सारथिके धराशायी होनेपर आपके पुत्रका रथ हवाके समान तीव्र वेगसे भागनेवाले घोड़ोंद्वारा युद्धस्थलसे दूर हटा दिया गया ।। ४३ $ ।। ततस्तव सुता राजन् सैनिकाश्न विशाम्पते
vāṭāyamānais tair aśvair apānīyata saṅgarāt | prabho! asau sārathike dharāśāyī bhavane paraṁ tava putrasya ratho havā-samāna-tīvra-vegase bhāganevāle ghoṛoṁdvārā yuddhasthalāt dūraṁ haṭā diya gaya || 43 || tatastava sutā rājan sainikāś ca viśāmpate
Wahai Tuanku, ketika kusir itu roboh ke tanah, kuda-kuda yang melaju secepat angin menarik kereta putramu menjauh dari medan laga. Lalu, wahai Raja, wahai penguasa manusia, putra-putramu dan para prajurit pun (melihat arus pertempuran berubah) bereaksi.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the might of a warrior depends on supporting roles and conditions: when the charioteer falls, the chariot’s effectiveness collapses, forcing withdrawal. The passage underscores the fragility of power in war and the ethical weight of responsibility toward those who enable leadership.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, after the charioteer fell on the battlefield, the king’s son’s chariot was quickly pulled away by swift horses, removing him from immediate danger. The verse then transitions to describe how the king’s sons and troops respond as the situation develops.