Shloka 19
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
तदनन्तर राजा दुर्योधन, सुबलपुत्र शकुनि, दुःशासन, विकर्ण तथा अन्य जो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र वहाँ आये थे, उन सबने गरुड़के समान भयंकर शब्द करनेवाले रथोंपर आखरूढ़ हो गन्धर्वोकी उस सेनाका संहार आरम्भ किया ।। भूयश्व योधयामासु: कृत्वा कर्णमथाग्रत: । महता रथसड्घेन रथचारेण चाप्युत
tadanantaraṁ rājā duryodhanaḥ subalaputraḥ śakuniḥ duḥśāsanaḥ vikarṇaḥ tathā anye ye dhṛtarāṣṭraputrāḥ tatra āgatāḥ te sarve garuḍa-sadṛśa-bhīṣaṇa-śabda-kāribhiḥ rathaiḥ ārūḍhāḥ gandharvānāṁ tāṁ senāṁ saṁhartuṁ prārabdhavantaḥ || bhūyaś ca yodhayāmāsuḥ kṛtvā karṇam athāgrataḥ | mahatā ratha-saṅghena ratha-cāreṇa cāpy uta ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Depois disso, o rei Duryodhana—com Śakuni, filho de Subala, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa e os demais filhos de Dhṛtarāṣṭra que ali haviam chegado—subiu a carros que rugiam com som terrível, como o de Garuḍa, e iniciou o massacre do exército dos Gandharvas. Mais uma vez pressionaram a luta, colocando Karṇa à frente, apoiados também por uma grande massa de carros e cocheiros.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how unchecked pride and the urge to dominate can override restraint: the Kauravas, instead of seeking a measured course, renew the assault with greater force, showing how adharma often manifests as escalation and reliance on sheer power.
Duryodhana, along with Śakuni, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa, and other Kauravas, mounts noisy, fearsome chariots and begins attacking the Gandharva army; they reorganize to fight again, placing Karṇa at the front with a large chariot contingent.