Shloka 683
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
दुर्योधनरथं तूर्णमारुरोह विनि:श्वसन् । राजन्! उस समय सारी सेनाओंमें महान् हाहाकार होने लगा। महाराज! सात्यकिके बाणोंसे रथहीन किया गया कर्ण भी लंबी साँस खींचता हुआ तुरंत ही दुर्योधनके रथपर जा बैठा
sañjaya uvāca | duryodhana-rathaṁ tūrṇam āruroha viniḥśvasan | rājan! tadā sarvāsu senāsu mahān hāhākāro 'bhavat | mahārāja! sātyaki-bāṇair ratha-hīnaḥ kṛtaḥ karṇo 'pi dīrghaṁ śvāsaṁ gṛhītvā tūrṇam eva duryodhanasya rathe nyaviśat |
Sanjaya berkata: Terengah-engah ia segera menaiki kereta Duryodhana. Wahai Raja, pada saat itu gemuruh hiruk-pikuk besar bangkit di seluruh bala tentara. Wahai Maharaja, Karna pun—setelah dibuat tanpa kereta oleh panah-panah Satyaki—menarik napas panjang dan seketika duduk di kereta Duryodhana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the fragility of power in war: even renowned heroes can be suddenly reduced to dependence. Ethically, it points to how choices and alliances (loyalty, rivalry, and mutual reliance) are revealed under extreme pressure, and how pride is confronted by necessity.
Satyaki’s arrows have rendered Karna chariotless. Amid a widespread uproar across the armies, Karna—breathing heavily—quickly climbs onto Duryodhana’s chariot, indicating an urgent tactical regrouping and the continued coordination of the Kaurava leadership in battle.