Shloka 23
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
निमेषार्धात् ततः कर्णो धनुर्हस्तो व्यतिष्ठत । दृष्टवा स कुरुसौवीरसिन्धुवीरबलक्षयम्
nimeṣārdhāt tataḥ karṇo dhanur-hasto vyatiṣṭhata | dṛṣṭvā sa kuru-sauvīra-sindhu-vīra-bala-kṣayam ||
ສັນຊະຍະກ່າວວ່າ: ແລ້ວໃນເວລາບໍ່ທັນເຖິງຄື່ງການກະພິບຕາ ກັນນະກໍຢືນຢັນຢ່າງໝັ້ນຄົງ ຖືຄັນທະນູຢູ່ໃນມື. ເມື່ອເຫັນການພິນາດຂອງກຳລັງນັກຮົບ—ຝ່າຍກຸຣຸ, ສາວີຣະ ແລະ ສິນທຸ—ລາວກໍກະຊັບໃຈ ເພື່ອຕອບໂຕ ທ່າມກາງແຖວທີ່ກຳລັງພັງທະລາຍ.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya steadiness in calamity: when forces collapse and allies fall, a leader is tested by how quickly and firmly he regains composure and takes responsibility. It also underscores the ethical weight of war—victory and loss can turn in an instant, demanding vigilance and restraint.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, seeing heavy losses among allied warrior groups (Kurus, Sauvīras, and Sindhu heroes), immediately takes a firm stance with his bow ready—signaling a rapid tactical and psychological response to a sudden battlefield reversal.