Shloka 13
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
दन्द्धान्यासन् महाराज प्रेक्षणीयानि संयुगे । विविधान्यप्यचिन्त्यानि शस्त्रवन्त्युत्तमानि च,महाराज! उस रणभूमिमें होनेवाले नाना प्रकारके अचिन्तनीय, शस्त्रयुक्त तथा उत्तम द्न्द्ययुद्ध देखने ही योग्य थे
dvandvadhānyāsan mahārāja prekṣaṇīyāni saṁyuge | vividhāny apy acintyāni śastravanty uttamāni ca ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, di medan itu terdapat pelbagai jenis pertarungan satu lawan satu—pemandangan yang layak disaksikan dalam perang—beraneka ragam, bahkan sukar dibayangkan, lengkap bersenjata dan pada darjat yang tertinggi.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the extraordinary intensity and variety of kṣatriya warfare: battle becomes a ‘spectacle’ of skill and weaponry, inviting reflection on how human prowess and violence can appear admirable even while serving destruction.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the battlefield was filled with numerous one-on-one engagements—diverse, astonishing, weapon-laden, and exemplary in martial quality—setting the scene for the ongoing clashes.