Shloka 386
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५७
Arjuna’s targeted advance; Śalya–Karṇa dialogue; interception attempts
जल त्यक्त्वा प्रधावन्ति क्रोशमाना: परस्परम् । “अर्जुन! कितने ही योद्धा पानी लानेके लिये गये
jalaṁ tyaktvā pradhāvanti krośamānāḥ parasparam |
Sañjaya berkata: Mereka mencampakkan air itu lalu berlari ke segala arah, saling menjerit memanggil. Pemandangan ini menyingkap kekejaman dan kesia-siaan yang dilahirkan perang: usaha menyelamatkan nyawa tiba terlalu lewat, dan dukacita menenggelamkan kewajipan; apabila mereka yang pulang membawa air melihat kaum kerabat sendiri terbaring tidak sedarkan diri, mereka pun mencurahkannya di situ dan berlari sambil meraung-raung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the devastating moral and emotional fallout of war: practical duties (bringing water to the wounded) are eclipsed by shock and grief when death has already occurred. It implicitly warns that violence multiplies suffering beyond the immediate act of killing, unraveling composure, duty, and human bonds.
On the battlefield, some warriors had gone to fetch water for those suffering from thirst. When they return, they find their relatives and comrades already unconscious or dead; in despair they throw down the water and run about, crying to one another.