Shloka 43
धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca
चक्रैः प्रमथितैश्ित्रैरक्षेश्न॒ बहुधा रणे । युगै्योक्त्रै: कलापैश्न धनुर्भि: सायकैस्तथा
cakraiḥ pramathitaiś citrair akṣaiś ca bahudhā raṇe | yugair yoktraiḥ kalāpaiś ca dhanurbhiḥ sāyakais tathā ||
シュリー・クリシュナは言った。「その戦いでは、戦車はさまざまに打ち砕かれた。車輪によって、折れ方もさまざまな車軸によって、また轭や手綱によっても同様であった。矢筒は散り、弓は折れ、矢は地に散らばった。かくして戦場は、歯止めなき憤怒がもたらす破滅の証人となった—技と勇が自制を離れるとき、高貴な道具すら瓦礫へと変わるのだ。」
श्रीकृष्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the tangible cost of war: instruments meant for righteous defense—chariots, bows, and arrows—become broken debris when conflict escalates. It implicitly points to the ethical need for restraint and right intention (dharma) even amid kṣatriya warfare, since violence, once unleashed, indiscriminately destroys.
Kṛṣṇa describes the battlefield scene: chariot components (wheels, axles, yokes, reins) are smashed and scattered, and weapons (quivers, bows, arrows) are strewn about. The line functions as vivid reportage of the battle’s intensity and the widespread wreckage.