Shloka 60
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
ततः स प्रद्रुतं संख्ये रथं दृष्टवा महारथः । अन्वधावत् किरन् बाणै: कड्कपत्रैरजिद्वागैः,फिर महारथी कर्ण युधिष्ठिरके सारथिरहित रथको रणभूमिमें इधर-उधर घूमते देख कंकपत्रयुक्त सीधे जानेवाले बाणोंकी वर्षा करता हुआ उनके पीछे-पीछे दौड़ने लगा
tataḥ sa pradrutaṃ saṅkhye rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahārathaḥ | anvadhāvat kiran bāṇaiḥ kaṅkapatrair ajidvagaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then the great chariot-warrior, seeing that chariot rushing about on the battlefield, pursued it closely, showering it with arrows—straight-flying, keen, and feathered with heron-plumes. In the ethical texture of the episode, the pursuit underscores the relentless pressure of war: a moment of vulnerability on the field (a chariot moving without its driver) is immediately exploited by a powerful combatant, revealing how martial success often turns on swift perception and uncompromising aggression rather than mercy.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a hard truth of dharma in war: on the battlefield, alertness and decisive action dominate; when an opponent becomes exposed (a chariot rushing about without proper control), a powerful warrior immediately presses the advantage. It reflects the uncompromising nature of kṣatriya conduct in active combat rather than ideals of gentleness.
Sañjaya describes a great warrior noticing a chariot rushing about in the fight and chasing it, all the while raining down straight-flying, sharp arrows feathered with heron-plumes. In the surrounding Karṇa-parvan context, this is understood as Karṇa pursuing Yudhiṣṭhira’s chariot when it is in a vulnerable state.