Shloka 49
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
भीमसेन: कुरून् राजन हस्त्यनीकं च सर्वश: । एवमेष क्षयो वृत्त: कुरुपाण्डवसेनयो: । अपराल्लि गते सूर्य काड्क्षतां विपुलं यश:,राजन! भीमसेनने कौरवों तथा आपकी गजसेनाको सर्वथा नष्ट कर दिया। इस प्रकार सूर्यदेवके अपराह्नकालमें जाते-जाते कौरव और पाण्डव दोनों सेनाओंमें महान् यशकी अभिलाषा रखनेवाले वीरोंका यह विनाश-कार्य सम्पन्न हुआ
bhīmasenaḥ kurūn rājan hastyanīkaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | evam eṣa kṣayo vṛttaḥ kuru-pāṇḍava-senayoḥ | aparāhṇe gate sūrye kāṅkṣatāṃ vipulaṃ yaśaḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: “Ó rei, Bhīmasena destruiu por completo os Kurus e o vosso corpo de elefantes. Assim, quando o sol avançava para o fim da tarde, consumou-se este grande morticínio entre os exércitos Kuru e Pāṇḍava — guerreiros de ambos os lados movidos pelo desejo de vasta renome.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: warriors pursue “vipulaṃ yaśaḥ” (great fame), yet that pursuit culminates in “kṣaya” (mass destruction) affecting both sides. It implicitly warns that glory-seeking in battle carries a heavy human cost, even when framed within kṣatriya warfare.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma has completely crushed the Kurus and the Kauravas’ elephant division. As the day moves into late afternoon, the fighting results in severe losses for both the Kuru and Pāṇḍava forces.