Shloka 59
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
परंतप! उन दोनोंका वह महान् युद्ध बड़ा भयंकर था। प्रजानाथ! वैसा युद्ध मैंने पहले कभी नहीं देखा था ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
parantapa! ubhayos tayoḥ sa mahān yuddhaḥ bhṛśaṃ bhayānaka āsīt | prajānātha! tādṛśaṃ yuddhaṃ mayā pūrvaṃ kadācana na dṛṣṭam ||
kṛtavarmā tato rājann uttamaujasaṃ āhave | hṛdi vivyādha sahasā rathopasthe upāviśat ||
Sañjaya disse: “Ó flagelo dos inimigos! A grande batalha entre aqueles dois foi terrivelmente pavorosa. Ó senhor dos povos! Nunca antes eu vira combate semelhante. Então, ó Rei, Kṛtavarmā atingiu de súbito Uttamaujā no peito, em pleno campo de batalha. Uttamaujā, como se estivesse sem sentidos, abateu-se e ficou sentado na parte traseira de seu carro.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the brutal reality of war as witnessed by a truthful narrator: even renowned warriors can be suddenly incapacitated. It implicitly cautions that martial prowess and life itself are fragile amid adharma-driven conflict, while also reflecting the kṣatriya world where duty and violence coexist.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the duel was unprecedentedly terrifying. In the next moment, Kṛtavarmā delivers a sudden, deep blow to Uttamaujā’s chest, causing Uttamaujā to lose awareness and slump onto the rear/seat area of his chariot.