कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
हाहाकारो महानासीत् पज्चालानां विशाम्पते । पीडितानां बलवता भार्गवास्त्रेण संयुगे
hāhākāro mahān āsīt pāñcālānāṃ viśāmpate | pīḍitānāṃ balavatā bhārgavāstreṇa saṃyuge ||
ข้าแต่องค์จอมชน ในสนามรบนั้น ชาวปัญจาลผู้ถูกอาวุธภารคพอันทรงฤทธิ์กดข่ม ก็เปล่งเสียงโอดครวญอันใหญ่หลวงขึ้น
संजय उवाच
The verse foregrounds the human cost of astric warfare: extraordinary weapons magnify destruction, and the narrative repeatedly reminds the listener that martial prowess, when unchecked, culminates in collective suffering—an ethical counterpoint to mere celebration of victory.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, amid the fighting, the Pāñcāla forces are being heavily struck by a powerful Bhārgava weapon, causing widespread cries of anguish across their ranks.