Shloka 32
अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle
तद् वध्यमानं पाण्डूनां बल॑ कर्णास्त्रतेजसा । विशस्त्रपत्रदेहासु प्राय आसीत् पराड्मुखम्
tad vadhyamānaṃ pāṇḍūnāṃ balaṃ karṇāstratejasā | viśastrapatradehāsu prāya āsīt parāṅmukham ||
サञ्जयは語った。カルナの飛び道具の燃え立つ威光に打ち倒され、パーンダヴァ軍は武器も鎧も、さらには身の力さえ失い、ほとんどが戦場に背を向けて乱れて逃げ去った。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata insight: in battle, sheer martial power (astra-tejas) can collapse collective courage, and when fear dominates, even those bound by kṣatriya-duty may turn away. It invites reflection on steadiness, discipline, and the ethical weight of warfare where victory often hinges on morale as much as righteousness.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa’s weapon-power is devastating the Pāṇḍava forces. Many soldiers become effectively helpless—disarmed and weakened—and consequently retreat from the battlefield, fleeing rather than holding formation.