Shloka 56
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
तथाश्वरथनागानां कृतं च कदनं महत् । “पुनः लौटे हुए पाण्डव-योद्धाओंने विशाल शत्रुसेनामें भगदड़ मचा दी थी; परंतु अश्वत्थामाके संकल्पके अनुसार कर्णने सुंजयोंका संहार कर डाला तथा अपनी सेनाके हाथी, घोड़े एवं रथोंका भारी विनाश कर दिया”
tathāśvarathanāgānāṁ kṛtaṁ ca kadanaṁ mahat |
サञ्जयは言った。「同じように、馬・戦車・象の間にも大いなる殺戮がもたらされた。引き返して来たパाण्डヴァの戦士たちは、広大な敵軍を恐慌に陥れて潰走させた。だがアシュヴァッターマの決意に沿い、カルナは苛烈な破壊を遂げ、敵方の象・馬・戦車に甚大な損害を与えた。これは戦の奔流の姿である。決意と報復が相まって、惨禍は歯止めなく増幅してゆく。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, once battle is fully engaged, determination and retaliation can magnify destruction across all arms of the army (elephants, horses, chariots). Ethically, it highlights the tragic momentum of war: even when one side causes a rout, counter-violence quickly follows, showing how difficult it is to contain harm once dharma is pursued through warfare.
Sañjaya reports that a major carnage occurred among the battlefield’s key military units—elephants, horses, and chariots. The broader context describes returning Pāṇḍava fighters causing panic in the enemy ranks, while Karṇa, aligned with Aśvatthāmā’s intent, responds with severe destruction, inflicting heavy losses in these divisions.