Shloka 59
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
परंतप! उन दोनोंका वह महान् युद्ध बड़ा भयंकर था। प्रजानाथ! वैसा युद्ध मैंने पहले कभी नहीं देखा था ।। कृतवर्मा ततो राजन्नुत्तमौजसमाहवे । हृदि विव्याध सहसा रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्,राजन! तदनन्तर कृतवर्माने युद्धस्थलमें सहसा उत्तमौजाकी छातीमें गहरा आघात किया। उत्तमौजा अचेत-सा होकर रथके पिछले भागमें बैठ गया
sañjaya uvāca |
parantapa! ubhayos tayoḥ sa mahān yuddhaḥ bhṛśaṃ bhayānaka āsīt | prajānātha! tādṛśaṃ yuddhaṃ mayā pūrvaṃ kadācana na dṛṣṭam ||
kṛtavarmā tato rājann uttamaujasaṃ āhave | hṛdi vivyādha sahasā rathopasthe upāviśat ||
サンジャヤは言った。「敵を焼き尽くす御方よ！あの二人の大いなる戦いは、まことに凄惨であった。民の主よ！かかる戦いを、私はかつて見たことがない。 そののち、王よ、クリタヴァルマーは戦場のただ中で、忽ちウッタマウジャの胸を突いた。ウッタマウジャは気を失ったかのように崩れ、戦車の後ろの座へと沈み込んだ。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the brutal reality of war as witnessed by a truthful narrator: even renowned warriors can be suddenly incapacitated. It implicitly cautions that martial prowess and life itself are fragile amid adharma-driven conflict, while also reflecting the kṣatriya world where duty and violence coexist.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the duel was unprecedentedly terrifying. In the next moment, Kṛtavarmā delivers a sudden, deep blow to Uttamaujā’s chest, causing Uttamaujā to lose awareness and slump onto the rear/seat area of his chariot.