Shloka 483
आरुरोह रथं तूर्णमुलूकस्य महात्मन: । तत्पश्चात् उन्होंने शीघ्रतापूर्वक बाण मारकर शकुनिके घोड़ोंको यमलोक पहुँचा दिया। भरतश्रेष्ठ] तब शकुनि भी सहसा अपने रथसे कूदकर महामनस्वी उलूकके रथपर तुरंत जा चढ़ा
āruroha rathaṃ tūṛṇam ulūkasya mahātmanaḥ | tatpaścāt śīghratāpūrvakaṃ bāṇān prahṛtya śakuneḥ aśvān yamalokaṃ prāpayām āsa | tataḥ śakuniḥ sahasā svārathāt plutyā mahāmanasvina ulūkasya ratham āruroha ||
Sañjaya berkata: Shakuni seketika menaiki kereta sang mulia Ulūka. Lalu, dengan cepat menghujamkan anak panah, ia mengirim kuda-kuda Shakuni ke alam Yama—membunuhnya di tengah pertempuran. Maka Shakuni, dalam desakan mendadak, melompat turun dari keretanya sendiri dan seketika naik ke kereta Ulūka yang berhati luhur.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical atmosphere of war: life can turn on a moment, and even eminent figures must adapt instantly. It implicitly contrasts ideals of honor with the battlefield reality where tactical necessity and survival often dominate.
In the midst of combat, Shakuni quickly mounts Ulūka’s chariot. After arrows are shot that kill Shakuni’s horses (sending them to 'Yamaloka'), Shakuni abruptly abandons his own chariot and climbs onto Ulūka’s chariot to continue moving and fighting.