Shloka 41
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे । छित्त्वा च कार्मुकं तूर्ण पाण्डवस्याशु पत्रिणा,राजेन्द्र! फिर एक भल्लसे उनके सारथिको यमलोक भेज दिया और तुरंत ही एक बाणसे उनके धनुषको भी काटकर बिना विशेष कष्टके ही मुहूर्तभरमें हँसते हुए-से कर्णने भयंकर पराक्रमी भीमसेनको रथहीन कर दिया
sārathiṁ cāsya bhallena preṣayāmāsa mṛtyave | chittvā ca kārmukaṁ tūrṇaṁ pāṇḍavasya āśu patriṇā | rājendra |
サンジャヤは言った。「鋭いバッラ（bhalla）の矢で、彼はその戦士の御者を死へと送り、ついで羽根ある矢でパーンドゥの子の弓をたちまち断ち切った。王よ、カルナはまるで微笑むかのように、ほとんど力を費やさず、ほんの一瞬で、恐るべき剛勇のビーマセーナを戦車なき身とした。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the ethics of epic warfare, tactical precision can instantly overturn a warrior’s position: by removing the charioteer and cutting the bow, Karṇa neutralizes Bhīma’s capacity to fight effectively. It also points to the ever-present reality of mṛtyu (death) in battle—status and strength are fragile when confronted by skill and circumstance.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa strikes down the opponent’s charioteer with a bhalla-arrow and then quickly cuts the Pāṇḍava’s bow with another arrow, leaving Bhīmasena without a functioning chariot setup—effectively rendering him ‘rathahīna’ (chariotless/disabled in chariot-combat) for the moment.