Shloka 89
रथौ तयो: श्वेतहयौ दिव्यौ युक्त महात्मनो: । यौ तौ कर्णार्जुनौ राजन प्रह्ृष्ावभ्यतिष्ठताम्
rathau tayoḥ śvetahayau divyau yuktau mahātmanoḥ | yau tau karṇārjunau rājan prahṛṣṭāv abhyatiṣṭhatām ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, dua buah kereta yang dinaiki Karṇa dan Arjuna, berdiri dengan semangat berkobar untuk bertempur, adalah kereta yang menakjubkan lagi bersifat cakerawala; masing-masing dipasang dengan kuda putih dan dilengkapi segala kelengkapan yang diperlukan—sesuai bagi dua pahlawan yang berjiwa besar itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic motif that external preparedness—divine chariots, disciplined horses, complete equipment—reflects inner determination. Yet it also hints at the ethical gravity of war: splendid instruments of battle serve a conflict whose outcomes carry profound dharmic consequences.
Sañjaya describes to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battle-ready scene: Karṇa and Arjuna, exhilarated, take their stand on their respective chariots, which are portrayed as divine, well-equipped, and yoked with white horses—setting the stage for their climactic confrontation.