Shloka 13
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
रथैर्तताश्वसूतैश्व हतारोहैश्वन वाजिभि: । द्विरदैश्व॒ हतारोहैर्महामात्रैरहतद्विपै:
sañjaya uvāca |
rathair hatāśvasūtaiś ca hatārohāś ca vājibhiḥ |
dviradaiś ca hatārohā mahāmātrair ahatadvipaiḥ ||
サञ्जयは言った。「大王よ、戦場においてアルジュナの矢は恐るべき殺戮をもたらした。ある戦車は、馬と御者が討たれて車だけが残り、また別の所では騎馬兵が斬り伏せられた。ある所では象上の戦士が倒れ、大象使い（マハウト）は象とともに生き残り、また別の所では象そのものが打ち倒され、象使いが生き残った。かくして、彼の弓から放たれた矢によって多くの車戦の勇士が撃たれ、地に倒れた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of war: even when fought as kṣatriya-duty, battle produces indiscriminate and uneven destruction—sometimes the mount survives while the rider dies, sometimes the reverse. It highlights the ethical tension between martial excellence and the human cost of violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s archery is causing chaotic devastation in the ranks: chariots are rendered useless by killing horses and charioteers, cavalry riders are cut down, and elephant units are disrupted with either riders or elephants being slain. Many warriors fall under the barrage of Arjuna’s arrows.