Shloka 96
कर्णस्य सेनापत्याभिषेकः | Karṇa’s Consecration as Commander-in-Chief
दौ:शासनिर्महाराज सौभद्रं हतवान् रणे । महाराज! क्षत्रिय-धर्ममें तत्पर रहनेवाला वीर सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्यु रथहीन कर दिया गया था, उस अवस्थामें दुःशासनके पुत्रने उसे रणभूमिमें मारा था
sañjaya uvāca | dauḥśāsanir mahārāja saubhadraṃ hatavān raṇe | mahārāja! kṣatriya-dharme tatparaḥ vīraḥ subhadrā-kumāraḥ abhimanyuḥ rathahīnaḥ kṛtaḥ; tām avasthāṃ prāpya dauḥśāsanasya putreṇa sa raṇabhūmau hataḥ |
Disse Sañjaya: Ó rei, o filho de Duḥśāsana matou Saubhadra na batalha. Embora Abhimanyu—o herói, filho de Subhadrā—fosse firme no dharma dos kṣatriya, fora privado de seu carro; e nessa condição indefesa, o filho de Duḥśāsana o matou no campo de guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical conflict between the ideal of kshatriya-dharma and the reality of war: killing a warrior who has been rendered chariotless (effectively disadvantaged and vulnerable) is portrayed as morally troubling, even if done amid battle.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Abhimanyu (Saubhadra), famed for his devotion to warrior duty, was first made chariotless and then slain on the battlefield by Duhshasana’s son.