Shloka 11
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
तेषामापततां क्षिप्रं सुतानां ते जनाधिप । रथै: पञ्चाशता सार्थ पज्चाशदहनद् रथान्
teṣām āpatatāṁ kṣipraṁ sutānāṁ te janādhipa | rathaiḥ pañcāśatā sārtha pañcāśad ahanad rathān ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai penguasa rakyat, ketika putra-putramu menyerbu dengan cepat, ia bersama pasukannya—dengan lima puluh kereta—merobohkan lima puluh kereta lawan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, prowess and coordinated force can rapidly translate into large-scale destruction; it implicitly warns that power used in conflict reduces lives and achievements to mere counts, pressing rulers to reflect on responsibility for the carnage.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that as the (enemy) sons rushed forward swiftly, a warrior force acting together used fifty chariots to destroy fifty opposing chariots—an image of swift, efficient battlefield slaughter.