Shloka 11
कर्णनिधनश्रवणम् — Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament
सिंधुराष्ट्रमुखानीह दश राष्ट्राणि यानि ह । वशे तिष्ठन्ति वीरस्य य: स्थितस्तव शासने,राजन! जिस वीरके शासनमें सिन्धु, सौबीर आदि दस राष्ट्र थे जो सदा आपकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहा करता था, उस महापराक्रमी जयद्रथको अर्जुनने आपकी ग्यारह अक्षौहिणी सेनाओंको हराकर तीखे बाणोंसे मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca | sindhurāṣṭramukhānīha daśa rāṣṭrāṇi yāni ha | vaśe tiṣṭhanti vīrasya yaḥ sthitas tava śāsane |
Sañjaya said: “O King, here were ten realms—Sindhurāṣṭra and others—which stood under the control of that hero who remained established in your command.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the political-ethical reality of kingship in epic warfare: sovereignty is measured by allegiance and control over realms, yet such power is contingent and can be overturned by events on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a particular hero—one who had multiple kingdoms (beginning with Sindhurāṣṭra) under his control while remaining loyal to the king’s command—is being referenced in the unfolding war account.