Shloka 66
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
रथश्न विहितोस्माभिरवविंचित्रायुधसंवृत: । सारथिं च न जानीम: क: स्यात् तस्मिन् रथोत्तमे
rathaś ca vihito 'smābhir avavicitrāyudhasaṃvṛtaḥ | sārathiṃ ca na jānīmaḥ kaḥ syāt tasmin rathottame ||
“அவருக்காக வியத்தகு ஆயுதங்களால் நிறைந்த சிறந்த தேரை நாங்கள் அமைத்தோம்; ஆனால் அந்த உத்தமத் தேரில் தேரோட்டியாக யார் அமர்வார் என்பதை நாங்கள் அறியோம்.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Material readiness—arms, armor, and an excellent chariot—does not by itself secure success; effective action in war also depends on competent guidance and coordination. The verse highlights the ethical and practical weight of choosing the right sārathi: leadership is not merely possession of resources but the wise deployment of them through capable persons.
In the Karṇa Parva context, Duryodhana speaks about having arranged a superb, weapon-laden chariot for a key warrior, but admits uncertainty about who will serve as its charioteer. The line reflects a moment of logistical and strategic concern within the Kaurava camp, where the availability of a suitable sārathi becomes crucial to battlefield effectiveness.