Shloka 383
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
संचचाल रथे कर्ण: क्षितिकम्पे यथाचल: । उस प्रबल प्रहारसे व्यथित और विह्नलल-सा होकर कर्ण रथपर ही काँपने लगा। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे भूकम्पके समय पर्वत हिलने लगता है
sañcacāla rathe karṇaḥ kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ |
Sañjaya said: Struck by a mighty blow, Karṇa trembled upon his chariot, shaken and unsteady—like a mountain that quivers when the earth itself convulses. The image underscores how even the most formidable warrior can be momentarily overpowered by the force of battle, revealing the fragility that lies beneath martial pride.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the vulnerability of even great warriors: power and reputation do not make one immune to shock, pain, or reversal. In the ethical frame of the epic, it reminds the listener that human strength is contingent, and that pride in prowess can be humbled instantly by circumstances in war.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, having received a very forceful strike, reels on his chariot. The poet intensifies the moment through a simile: Karṇa’s shaking is compared to a mountain trembling during an earthquake, conveying both the blow’s severity and the dramatic turning of the combat.