Shloka 22
जाटासुरिर्महाराज विरथो हतसारथि: । घटोत्कचं रणे क्रुद्धो मुष्टिनाभ्यहनद् दृढम्,अभियाति द्रुतं कर्ण तद् वारय महारथम् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन! युद्धस्थलमें इस प्रकार कर्णका वध करनेकी इच्छासे उद्यत हुए घटोत्कचको सूतपुत्रके रथकी ओर आते देख आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने दःशासनसे इस प्रकार कहा--'भाई! यह राक्षस रणभूमिमें कर्णका वेगपूर्वक पराक्रम देखकर तीव्र गतिसे उसपर आक्रमण कर रहा है; अतः उस महारथी घटोत्कचको रोको महाराज! उस समय सारथिके मारे जानेपर रथहीन हुए अलम्बुषने रणभूमिमें कुपित हो घटोत्कचको बड़े जोरसे मुक्का मारा
sañjaya uvāca | jāṭāsurir mahārāja viratho hata-sārathiḥ | ghaṭotkacaṃ raṇe kruddho muṣṭinābhyahanad dṛḍham | abhiyāti drutaṃ karṇa tad vārayā mahāratham |
Sanjaya said: O King, Jāṭāsuri—his charioteer slain and thus left without a chariot—became enraged on the battlefield and struck Ghaṭotkaca hard with his fist. (Meanwhile) Ghaṭotkaca, intent on bringing about Karṇa’s death, was rushing swiftly toward the Sūta’s son; therefore, restrain that great chariot-warrior. The passage highlights the war’s escalating fury: when the supports of order (like the charioteer and chariot) collapse, combatants fall into raw rage, and leaders urgently attempt to protect key champions, even as violence intensifies beyond measured conduct.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how quickly warfare can degrade into uncontrolled fury: when a fighter loses the stabilizing structure of chariot and charioteer, anger erupts into direct, brutal action. It also shows the strategic-moral tension of war—leaders feel compelled to shield pivotal champions, even as the conflict pushes conduct toward excess.
Sañjaya reports that Jāṭāsuri, made chariotless because his charioteer has been killed, angrily punches Ghaṭotkaca with great force. At the same time, Ghaṭotkaca is rushing swiftly toward Karṇa with the intent to kill him, prompting an urgent call to stop or restrain Ghaṭotkaca, described as a great warrior.