Shloka 42
अमोघशक्तिव्यंसनप्रश्नः — Why Karṇa’s Śakti Was Not Used on Arjuna
एवमुक्त्वा पलायन्ते सर्वे भारत पार्थिवा: । विसंज्ञा वाहयन् वाहान् न च द्वौ सह धावत:
evam uktvā palāyante sarve bhārata pārthivāḥ | visaṁjñā vāhayan vāhān na ca dvau saha dhāvataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Having spoken thus, all those kings of the Bhārata host fled. Driving their steeds in a daze, they ran in such panic that not even two of them kept together.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how fear and confusion can dissolve solidarity and discipline in war: when leaders and warriors lose composure, even basic cohesion (“not even two together”) collapses, illustrating the ethical and practical cost of panic.
After a preceding statement (evam uktvā), the Bhārata-side kings break formation and flee. In their stunned state they drive their horses wildly, scattering so completely that no pair remains together while running.