Shloka 31
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
अन्ये छत्र॑ वरूथं च बन्धुरं च तथापरे | गन्धर्वा बहुसाहस्रास्तिलशो व्यधमन् रथम्,किसी एकने छत्र, दूसरोंने वरूथ- और अन्य सैनिकोंने रथके बन्धन काट डाले। गन्धर्वोंकी संख्या कई हजार थी। उन्होंने कर्णके रथको तिल-तिल करके काट दिया
anye chatraṃ varūthaṃ ca bandhuram ca tathāpare | gandharvā bahusāhasrās tilaśo vyadhaman ratham |
Vaiśampāyana said: Some cut down the parasol, others the protective covering, and still others severed the fastenings of the chariot. The Gandharvas, numbering many thousands, tore the chariot to pieces—bit by bit—reducing it as though to grains. The scene underscores how sheer collective force and skill can dismantle even a famed warrior’s outward emblems of status and security, exposing the fragility of pride and protection in the face of overwhelming opposition.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
External symbols of authority and protection—like the royal parasol and chariot defenses—can be swiftly undone when one faces a superior, coordinated force; the episode cautions against overreliance on status and material safeguards and highlights the need for humility and prudent judgment.
In the Gandharva confrontation, different attackers target different parts of the chariot—parasol, protective gear, and bindings—until, with thousands acting together, they smash the chariot into tiny pieces, effectively disabling the warrior’s mobility and defenses.