Shloka 56
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
तथाश्वरथनागानां कृतं च कदनं महत् । “पुनः लौटे हुए पाण्डव-योद्धाओंने विशाल शत्रुसेनामें भगदड़ मचा दी थी; परंतु अश्वत्थामाके संकल्पके अनुसार कर्णने सुंजयोंका संहार कर डाला तथा अपनी सेनाके हाथी
tathāśvarathanāgānāṁ kṛtaṁ ca kadanaṁ mahat |
Sañjaya disse: Do mesmo modo, realizou-se grande mortandade entre cavalos, carros e elefantes. Os guerreiros Pāṇḍava que retornavam lançaram o vasto exército inimigo em pânico e debandada; contudo, conforme a determinação de Aśvatthāmā, Karṇa executou uma destruição feroz, causando pesada ruína aos elefantes, cavalos e carros da força adversária—imagem do ímpeto da guerra, em que a firmeza e a retaliação ampliam a devastação para além de qualquer freio.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, once battle is fully engaged, determination and retaliation can magnify destruction across all arms of the army (elephants, horses, chariots). Ethically, it highlights the tragic momentum of war: even when one side causes a rout, counter-violence quickly follows, showing how difficult it is to contain harm once dharma is pursued through warfare.
Sañjaya reports that a major carnage occurred among the battlefield’s key military units—elephants, horses, and chariots. The broader context describes returning Pāṇḍava fighters causing panic in the enemy ranks, while Karṇa, aligned with Aśvatthāmā’s intent, responds with severe destruction, inflicting heavy losses in these divisions.