Shloka 19
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
ततः सेनापतिरभूत् कर्णो दौर्योधने बले । अक्षौहिणीभ्रि: शिष्टाभिवृत: पञचभिराहवे
tataḥ senāpatir abhūt karṇo dauryodhane bale | akṣauhiṇībhṛḥ śiṣṭābhivṛtaḥ pañcabhir āhave ||
その後、カルナはドゥルヨーダナ軍の総大将となった。戦場において彼は、先の殺戮を経てなお残った五つのアクシャウヒニーに囲まれて立ち、絶え間ない損耗によって道義すら疲弊した戦いの指揮を引き受けた。
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how leadership in war often arises amid irreversible consequences: even a mighty commander like Karṇa assumes command only after immense depletion. It invites reflection on dharma in conflict—valor and loyalty operate within a larger moral cost created by prolonged violence.
Vāsudeva narrates that after earlier commanders are gone, Karṇa is appointed commander-in-chief of Duryodhana’s forces. He stands in battle supported by the five remaining akṣauhiṇī divisions—what is left of the Kaurava army.