Shloka 22
भीष्मवधाय प्रयाणम् — The Advance toward Bhīṣma and Counter-Engagements
हताश्व॑ रथमुत्सज्य विकर्णस्तु महारथ: । आरुरोह रथं राजंश्रित्रसेनस्थ भारत,भरतवंशी नरेश! घोड़ोंके मारे जानेपर महारथी विकर्ण अपना रथ छोड़कर चित्रसेनके रथपर जा बैठा
hatāśvaṁ ratham utsajya vikarṇas tu mahārathaḥ | ārurōha rathaṁ rājan citrasenastha bhārata ||
Sañjaya berkata: Apabila kuda-kudanya telah dibunuh, Vikarṇa, sang maharathi, meninggalkan keretanya sendiri dan, wahai Raja, menaiki kereta Citrasena. Di medan perang, inilah hakikat yang keras—pahlawan mesti segera menyesuaikan diri demi terus hidup dan meneruskan dharma tugasnya, meski dalam kehilangan dan kekacauan yang mendadak.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the ethics of kṣatriya warfare, one must not collapse into helplessness when resources are lost; steadiness and swift adaptation are required to continue one’s appointed duty (svadharma) amid crisis.
Vikarṇa’s chariot becomes unusable because its horses are killed. He immediately abandons it and climbs onto Citrasena’s chariot, allowing him to remain engaged in the battle.