Shloka 20
अमोघशक्तिव्यंसनप्रश्नः — Why Karṇa’s Śakti Was Not Used on Arjuna
ततोअस्य सारथिं क्षिप्रमन्यं दुर्योधनो 5दिशत् । स तेन संगृहीताश्वः पुनरभ्यद्रवद् रिपून्
tato 'sya sārathiṁ kṣipram anyaṁ duryodhano 'diśat | sa tena saṁgṛhītāśvaḥ punar abhyadravad ripūn ||
Sañjaya said: Thereupon Duryodhana swiftly appointed another charioteer for him. With his horses thus brought under control by that driver, he once again charged toward the enemy. The verse underscores the war-leader’s resolve to continue the fight by restoring order and command in the midst of crisis, even as the ethical weight of relentless battle presses on.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the midst of upheaval, effective leadership restores the means of action (here, a competent charioteer controlling the horses) and resumes one’s chosen duty. Ethically, it highlights how determination and organizational control can sustain warfare—inviting reflection on the moral cost of perseverance in a destructive cause.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana quickly assigns a new charioteer for a warrior (implied by 'for him'). Once the horses are steadied and controlled, the chariot again rushes into battle against the foes.