Shloka 45
एते5भवन्नर्जुनतः क्षुद्रसर्पाश्न॒ कर्णत: । महाराज! मुनि
sañjaya uvāca |
ete ’bhavann arjunataḥ kṣudra-sarpāś ca karṇataḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Pada ketika itu, ular-ular kecil berpihak kepada Arjuna, sedangkan yang lain menyebelahi Karṇa. Maka, bahkan dalam kalangan nāga pun terbentuk puak—sebahagian menyokong Arjuna dan sebahagian menyokong Karṇa—seolah-olah dalam perang, persekutuan berubah menurut kekuatan yang disangka, takdir, dan ikatan lama, bukan menurut satu kesetiaan yang tetap.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the instability of worldly alliances in times of conflict: even natural or supernatural groups split into factions. Ethically, it suggests that power, fear, past enmities, and destiny can drive support, so one should not rely on shifting external backing but on right conduct and clarity of purpose.
Sañjaya reports a sign-like development during the battle context: serpents (nāgas) divide their allegiance—some becoming favorable to Arjuna, while others support Karṇa—indicating a broader atmosphere of omens and factional alignment around the two principal warriors.