Shloka 346
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
प्रज्वलन्ती महोल्केव तिष्ठत्यस्य हि वासवी । “कुन्तीकुमार! इस समय कर्णके साथ तुम्हारा युद्ध होना ठीक नहीं है; क्योंकि उसके पास बड़ी भारी उल्काके समान प्रज्वलित होनेवाली इन्द्रकी दी हुई शक्ति है
prajvalantī maholkeva tiṣṭhaty asya hi vāsavī |
Sañjaya berkata: “Di sisinya berdiri Vāsavī—senjata ilahi pemberian Indra—menyala laksana meteor raksasa. Maka, wahai putra Kuntī, saat ini tidaklah tepat bagimu bertempur melawan Karṇa, sebab ia memiliki daya dahsyat anugerah Indra itu.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights prudent dharma in warfare: ethical and strategic restraint is sometimes necessary when an opponent holds an overwhelming, divinely empowered weapon. Courage is not mere rashness; discernment about timing and consequences is also a moral duty.
Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa possesses the Vāsavī-śakti, a blazing Indra-given missile likened to a great meteor. On that basis, he conveys a warning that the son of Kuntī should not engage Karṇa at that moment, since the weapon’s presence makes the encounter exceptionally perilous.