Shloka 71
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
तत्र सारथिरेष्टव्य: सर्वरेतर्विशेषवान् । तत्प्रतिष्ठो रथो देव हया योद्धा तथैव च
tatra sārathir eṣṭavyaḥ sarvarathar-viśeṣavān | tatpratiṣṭho ratho deva hayā yoddhā tathaiva ca ||
“ฉะนั้น ข้าแต่เทพ! สำหรับรถนั้นพึงเสาะหาสารถีผู้เลิศเหนือผู้ใดด้วยคุณวิเศษทั้งปวง เพราะความมั่นคงและเกียรติของรถย่อมตั้งอยู่ที่สารถี—และเช่นเดียวกันกับม้าและนักรบ”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Excellence in leadership and outcomes depends not only on the frontline hero but also on the quality of support roles. The verse highlights ethical realism in warfare: competence and right selection of key aides (here, the charioteer) uphold the effectiveness and reputation of the entire fighting unit.
Duryodhana is emphasizing the strategic necessity of finding an outstanding charioteer. He argues that the chariot’s performance—and by extension the horses and the warrior’s success—rests upon the charioteer, underscoring the practical dynamics of battlefield command.