Shloka 12
कर्णनिधनश्रवणम् — Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament
अक्षौहिणीर्दशैकां च विनिर्जित्य शितै: शरै: । अर्जुनेन हतो राजन् महावीरयों जयद्रथ:,राजन! जिस वीरके शासनमें सिन्धु, सौबीर आदि दस राष्ट्र थे जो सदा आपकी आज्ञाके अधीन रहा करता था, उस महापराक्रमी जयद्रथको अर्जुनने आपकी ग्यारह अक्षौहिणी सेनाओंको हराकर तीखे बाणोंसे मार डाला
akṣauhiṇīr daśaikāṁ ca vinirjitya śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | arjunena hato rājan mahāvīryo jayadrathaḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: Ó Rei, depois de vencer tuas onze akṣauhiṇīs com flechas cortantes como lâminas, Arjuna matou o grande guerreiro Jayadratha. Assim caiu o governante sob cujo comando Sindhu, Saubīra e outros reinos haviam por muito tempo permanecido obedientes à tua autoridade—mostrando que, na guerra, poder e proteção desabam quando alianças movidas pelo adharma enfrentam um valor resoluto, preso a um voto.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral logic of the epic: worldly power and vast armies do not guarantee safety when one stands on the side of adharma. Jayadratha’s fall, despite immense protection, illustrates how consequences mature in war when actions oppose righteousness and provoke vow-bound retribution.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, fighting fiercely, overcame the Kaurava forces counted as eleven akṣauhiṇīs and then killed Jayadratha, the powerful Sindhu king allied with the Kauravas.