Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 39
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
क्लृप्तं तु तं रथं दृष्टवा विस्मिता देवता5भवन्
klṛptaṃ tu taṃ rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā vismitā devatā abhavan, mānyavara! sa rathaḥ kim iva—samasta-jagataḥ tejasāṃ puñja ekatra saṃhata iva. taṃ nirmitaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvā devatā āścarya-cakitā babhūvuḥ. tataḥ te mahātmā mahādevam idaṃ vijñāpayām āsuḥ—rathaḥ sajjaḥ.
Duryodhana berkata: “Tatkala mereka melihat kereta itu telah siap sepenuhnya, para dewa terpegun, wahai yang mulia. Seolah-olah seluruh sinar dunia berhimpun menjadi satu gumpal cahaya. Melihatnya selesai, semua dewa berdiri terpana; lalu mereka dengan hormat memaklumkan kepada Mahādeva yang berhati agung: ‘Kereta telah siap.’”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power and success in war are portrayed as dependent on forces beyond human control—divine sanction, craftsmanship, and cosmic splendor—inviting reflection on humility and the limits of mere human ambition.
Duryodhana narrates that a wondrous chariot has been completed; its brilliance amazes the gods, who then approach Mahādeva (Śiva) to report that the chariot is ready.