Shloka 9
इमामवस्थां प्राप्तोडस्मि कालो हि दुरतिक्रम: । 'शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म, अस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कर्ण, कृपाचार्य, शकुनि, अस्त्रधारियोंमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ द्रोणाचार्य, अश्वत्थामा, शूरवीर शल्य तथा कृतवर्मा मेरे रक्षक थे तो भी मैं इस दशाको आ पहुँचा। निश्चय ही कालका उल्लंघन करना किसीके लिये भी अत्यन्त कठिन है।। एकादशचमूभर्ता सो5हमेतां दशां गत:
sañjaya uvāca |
imām avasthāṁ prāpto 'smi kālo hi duratikramaḥ |
śāntanunandana bhīṣmaḥ astradhārīṇāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ karṇaḥ kṛpācāryaḥ śakuniḥ |
astradhārīṇāṁ sarvaśreṣṭho droṇācāryaḥ aśvatthāmā śūravīraḥ śalyaḥ tathā kṛtavarmā |
mama rakṣakā āsan tato 'pi aham etāṁ daśāṁ gataḥ |
niścayaṁ kālasyātikramaṇaṁ kasyacid api atyantaṁ duṣkaram ||
ekādaśa-camū-bhartā so 'ham etāṁ daśāṁ gataḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Aku telah sampai ke keadaan ini, kerana Kala (Waktu) memang sukar dilangkaui. Walaupun pelindungku ialah Bhīṣma, putera Śāntanu; Karṇa, terunggul antara para pemegang senjata; guru Kṛpa; Śakuni; Droṇa, yang terbaik daripada semua pembawa senjata; Aśvatthāmā; Śalya sang wira; dan Kṛtavarman—namun aku tetap jatuh ke dalam kesengsaraan ini. Sesungguhnya, melangkaui ketetapan Waktu amatlah sukar bagi sesiapa pun. Aku, yang pernah menjadi panglima sebelas divisi, telah sampai ke keadaan ini.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the strongest human protections—great warriors, strategy, and rank—cannot ultimately override Kāla (Time/Fate). The verse underscores humility before inevitability and the limits of power in the face of destiny and the unfolding consequences of war.
Sañjaya laments his fallen condition after catastrophic losses. He lists the eminent Kaurava protectors and acknowledges that despite such guardianship and despite being a commander of eleven divisions, he has still been brought low—attributing this to the irresistible force of Time.