Shloka 21
कर्णनिधनश्रवणम् — Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament
कोसलानामधिपतिर्धहत्वा बहुमतान् परान् | सौभद्रेण हि विक्रम्य गमितो यमसादनम्,कोशलनरेश शत्रुपक्षके अत्यन्त सम्मानित वीरोंका वध करके सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युके साथ पराक्रम दिखाते हुए यमलोकके पथिक बन गये
kosalānām adhipatir hatvā bahumatān parān | saubhadreṇa hi vikramya gamito yamasādanam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—कोसलानामधिपतिः परेषां बहुमतान् बहून् वीरान् हत्वा, सौभद्रेण सह विक्रम्य यमसादनं गमितः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the transience of martial fame: even a king who has slain many honored foes is ultimately carried to death when confronted by a stronger warrior. It frames battlefield prowess within an ethical horizon where mortality and consequence (karma) remain unavoidable.
Sañjaya reports that the king of Kośala, after killing many respected warriors from the enemy side, engages Saubhadra—Abhimanyu, son of Subhadrā—shows valor in that encounter, and is slain, thus ‘sent to Yama’s abode’ (i.e., killed in battle).