अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
युधामन्युं महेष्वासं गौतमो5भ्यपतद्रणे । कृतवर्मा च बलवानुत्तमौजसमाद्रवत्
yudhāmanyuṁ maheṣvāsaṁ gautamo 'bhyapatad raṇe | kṛtavarmā ca balavān uttamaujasaṁ ādravat ||
Disse Sañjaya: No auge da batalha, Gautama arremeteu contra Yudhāmanyu, o grande arqueiro; e o poderoso Kṛtavarmā investiu contra Uttamaujā. Assim, os combatentes buscaram oponentes à altura, impelindo a guerra adiante por desafios diretos, e não por recuo — imagem do ímpeto implacável de Kurukṣetra, onde a crise do dharma e das armas não dá trégua.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of meeting opponents directly in battle—valor expressed through facing capable adversaries. Ethically, it underscores how duty-driven martial resolve can propel conflict forward, intensifying the moral stakes of the war.
Sañjaya reports paired engagements: Gautama rushes to attack the great archer Yudhāmanyu, and the powerful Kṛtavarmā charges toward Uttamaujā. It is a brief battlefield update marking the onset of specific duels within the larger clash.