Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 6
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
महीवियद्दिगम्बूनां सर्वनाशमिवाद्धुतम् । कर्मणोरिव वैफल्यमुभयो: पुण्यपापयो:
mahīviyaddigambūnāṃ sarvanāśam ivādbhūtam | karmaṇor iva vaiphalyam ubhayoḥ puṇyapāpayoḥ ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—രാജാവേ! ഇത് ഭൂമി, ആകാശം, ദിക്കുകൾ, ജലങ്ങൾ എന്നിവയുടെ സർവ്വനാശം പോലെയൊരു അത്ഭുതമായി തോന്നി; പുണ്യവും പാപവും—ഇരുകർമങ്ങളും ഫലശൂന്യമായതുപോലെ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses cosmic-collapse imagery to express how shocking certain events feel when they seem to contradict one’s sense of moral causality (karma-phala). It highlights human bewilderment when the expected linkage between deeds (puṇya/pāpa) and outcomes appears to fail, especially amid the chaos of war.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes the news of Karṇa’s fall as so unbelievable that it resembles imagining the destruction of the world-elements or the fruitlessness of both merit and sin. The simile prepares the emotional ground for Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s shock and despair at the unraveling of the Kaurava cause.