Shloka 683
अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa
दुर्योधनरथं तूर्णमारुरोह विनि:श्वसन् । राजन्! उस समय सारी सेनाओंमें महान् हाहाकार होने लगा। महाराज! सात्यकिके बाणोंसे रथहीन किया गया कर्ण भी लंबी साँस खींचता हुआ तुरंत ही दुर्योधनके रथपर जा बैठा
sañjaya uvāca | duryodhana-rathaṁ tūrṇam āruroha viniḥśvasan | rājan! tadā sarvāsu senāsu mahān hāhākāro 'bhavat | mahārāja! sātyaki-bāṇair ratha-hīnaḥ kṛtaḥ karṇo 'pi dīrghaṁ śvāsaṁ gṛhītvā tūrṇam eva duryodhanasya rathe nyaviśat |
Sañjaya berkata: Tercungap-cungap, dia segera menaiki kereta perang Duryodhana. Wahai Raja, pada saat itu bangkitlah hiruk-pikuk besar di seluruh bala tentera. Wahai Maharaja, Karna juga—yang telah dilucutkan keretanya oleh anak panah Satyaki—menarik nafas panjang lalu serta-merta mengambil tempat di atas kereta Duryodhana.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the fragility of power in war: even renowned heroes can be suddenly reduced to dependence. Ethically, it points to how choices and alliances (loyalty, rivalry, and mutual reliance) are revealed under extreme pressure, and how pride is confronted by necessity.
Satyaki’s arrows have rendered Karna chariotless. Amid a widespread uproar across the armies, Karna—breathing heavily—quickly climbs onto Duryodhana’s chariot, indicating an urgent tactical regrouping and the continued coordination of the Kaurava leadership in battle.