Shloka 18
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
पज्च पाज्चालवीराणां रथान् दश च पञज्च च । साश्वसूतध्वजान् कर्ण: शरैरनिन्ये यमक्षयम्,उसने अपने बाणोंद्वारा पांचाल वीरोंमेंसे पहले पाँच, फिर दस और फिर पाँच रथियोंको घोड़े, सारथि एवं ध्वजोंसहित मारकर यमलोक पहुँचा दिया
pañca pāñcālavīrāṇāṁ rathān daśa ca pañca ca | sāśvasūtadhvajān karṇaḥ śarair aninye yamakṣayam ||
Dengan anak panahnya, Karṇa menghantar para kesatria kereta perang Pāñcāla ke alam Yama—mula-mula lima, kemudian sepuluh, lalu lima lagi—membunuh mereka bersama kuda, sais, dan panji-panji mereka.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethic of battlefield duty: martial excellence can rapidly annihilate not only individuals but entire chariot-units. It invites reflection on how war reduces persons to counts and formations, and how death (Yama’s realm) becomes the common destination regardless of valor.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa shoots down successive groups of Pāñcāla chariot-warriors—five, then ten, then five—killing them along with their horses, charioteers, and banners, thereby sending them to Yama’s abode.