Shloka 70
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
तथैव वेदाश्षतुरो हयाग्रया धरा सशैला च रथो महात्मन: । नक्षत्रवंशानुगतो वरूथी हरो योद्धा सारथिनाभिलक्ष्य:
tathaiva vedāś caturō hayāgryā dharā saśailā ca ratho mahātmanaḥ | nakṣatravaṃśānugato varūthī haro yoddhā sārathinābhilakṣyaḥ ||
Duryodhana berkata: “Demikian juga, keempat-empat Veda ialah kuda-kuda terunggul bagi mahatma itu, dan bumi bersama gunung-ganangnya menjadi kereta perangnya yang gemilang. Dengan panji berupa gugusan bintang dan dihias dengan perisai pelindung, Dewa Hara (Śiva) duduk di atas kereta itu sebagai pahlawan rathi—namun tiada kelihatan saisnya.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses cosmic metaphor to portray divine, self-sufficient power: Śiva is imagined as a supreme warrior whose chariot is the very earth, whose horses are the Vedas, and whose banner is the starry host—suggesting that ultimate authority transcends ordinary human supports (even a visible charioteer).
In Karṇa Parva, Duryodhana is describing an awe-inspiring, symbolic vision of Lord Śiva as a chariot-warrior. He highlights the grandeur of the divine war-vehicle and notes the striking detail that no charioteer can be seen, emphasizing Śiva’s extraordinary nature.