Shloka 6
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
अल्पावशेषं सैन्यं मे कृतं शक्रात्मजेन ह | “मेरे और महात्मा द्रोणके परिश्रमपूर्वक युद्ध करते रहनेपर भी इन्द्रपुत्र अर्जुनने मेरी सेनाको अल्प-मात्रामें ही जीवित छोड़ा है (अधिकांश सेनाको तो मार ही डाला है) ।। ५६ || कथ॑ं नियच्छमानस्य द्रोणस्य युधि फाल्गुन:
alpāvaśeṣaṃ sainyaṃ me kṛtaṃ śakrātmajena ha | kathaṃ niyacchamānasya droṇasya yudhi phālgunaḥ
Sañjaya berkata: Putra Śakra, Arjuna, telah menyisakan pasukanku hanya sebagai sisa yang kecil. Padahal Droṇa yang agung berusaha menahannya di pertempuran—bagaimana Phālguna masih dapat melakukannya di medan laga?
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts human effort and martial skill: even a master like Droṇa striving to check Arjuna cannot prevent massive losses, highlighting the overwhelming force of a divinely-endowed warrior and the limits of control in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna has nearly annihilated the Kaurava forces, and he expresses astonishment that this occurred despite Droṇa’s active attempt to restrain Arjuna in battle.