Shloka 5
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
एवमुक्तश्व कर्णेन शल्यो मद्राधिपस्तदा । हंसवर्णान् हयानग्रयान् प्रैषीद् यत्र वृकोदर:,कर्णके ऐसा कहनेपर मद्रराज शल्यने हंसके समान श्वेत वर्णवाले श्रेष्ठ घोड़ोंको उधर ही हाँक दिया, जहाँ भीमसेन खड़े थे
evam uktaś ca karṇena śalyo madrādhipas tadā | haṃsavarṇān hayān agryān praiṣīd yatra vṛkodaraḥ ||
కర్ణుడు ఇలా చెప్పగానే మద్రాధిపతి శల్యుడు హంసవర్ణమైన శ్రేష్ఠ అశ్వాలను అక్కడికే దూకించాడు—వృకోదరుడు (భీముడు) ఉన్న చోటికి.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield outcomes depend not only on a hero’s valor but also on supporting roles—here, the charioteer’s execution of commands. In dharmic terms, competence and obedience in one’s assigned duty (svadharma) can decisively affect the moral and practical stakes of combat.
After Karṇa speaks to him, Śalya—serving as charioteer—drives the chariot’s excellent white horses toward the spot where Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is positioned, setting up or intensifying the confrontation in the ongoing battle.