Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
तदनन्तर राजा दुर्योधन, सुबलपुत्र शकुनि, दुःशासन, विकर्ण तथा अन्य जो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र वहाँ आये थे, उन सबने गरुड़के समान भयंकर शब्द करनेवाले रथोंपर आखरूढ़ हो गन्धर्वोकी उस सेनाका संहार आरम्भ किया ।। भूयश्व योधयामासु: कृत्वा कर्णमथाग्रत: । महता रथसड्घेन रथचारेण चाप्युत
tadanantaraṁ rājā duryodhanaḥ subalaputraḥ śakuniḥ duḥśāsanaḥ vikarṇaḥ tathā anye ye dhṛtarāṣṭraputrāḥ tatra āgatāḥ te sarve garuḍa-sadṛśa-bhīṣaṇa-śabda-kāribhiḥ rathaiḥ ārūḍhāḥ gandharvānāṁ tāṁ senāṁ saṁhartuṁ prārabdhavantaḥ || bhūyaś ca yodhayāmāsuḥ kṛtvā karṇam athāgrataḥ | mahatā ratha-saṅghena ratha-cāreṇa cāpy uta ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thereafter King Duryodhana—together with Śakuni the son of Subala, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa, and the other sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra who had arrived there—mounted on chariots that roared with a terrifying sound like Garuḍa, began the slaughter of the Gandharva host. Again they pressed the fight, placing Karṇa at the front, supported by a great mass of chariots and charioteers as well. Ethically, the passage underscores how pride and factional loyalty drive escalation: rather than restraint or reconciliation, the Kauravas choose renewed violence and seek advantage through force and formation.
वैशम्पायन उवाच