Shloka 18
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
पज्च पाज्चालवीराणां रथान् दश च पञज्च च । साश्वसूतध्वजान् कर्ण: शरैरनिन्ये यमक्षयम्
pañca pāñcālavīrāṇāṁ rathān daśa ca pañca ca | sāśvasūtadhvajān karṇaḥ śarair aninye yamakṣayam ||
Sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga palaso, ipinadala ni Karṇa sa tahanan ni Yama ang mga mandirigmang karwahe ng mga Pāñcāla—una’y lima, saka sampu, at saka lima pa—pinatay sila kasama ang kanilang mga kabayo, mga tagapagmaneho, at mga watawat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethic of battlefield duty: martial excellence can rapidly annihilate not only individuals but entire chariot-units. It invites reflection on how war reduces persons to counts and formations, and how death (Yama’s realm) becomes the common destination regardless of valor.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa shoots down successive groups of Pāñcāla chariot-warriors—five, then ten, then five—killing them along with their horses, charioteers, and banners, thereby sending them to Yama’s abode.