Shloka 166
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
नाराचेन सुतीक्ष्णेन स हतो न्यपतद् भुवि । फिर लगे हाथ भीमसेनने क्राथ (क्रथन)-को भी एक तीखे नाराचसे मारकर यमलोक पहुँचा दिया। वह राजकुमार प्राणशून्य होकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
nārācena sutīkṣṇena sa hato nyapatad bhuvi |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Tinamaan siya ng isang nārāca na ubod ng talim; napatay siya at bumagsak sa lupa. At sa walang-awat na bugso ng labanan, pinaslang din ni Bhīmasena si Kratha sa pamamagitan ng isang matalim na nārāca, ipinadala siya sa kaharian ni Yama; ang prinsipe, wala nang hininga, ay nalugmok sa lupa—larawang nagpapakita kung paanong ang digmaan ay biglang ginagawang kamatayan ang tapang at angkan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the stark ethical gravity of war: even princes fall instantly when struck, reminding the listener that power and status are fragile. It also reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between kṣatriya-duty in battle and the human cost of violence.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield event: a warrior is killed by a sharp nārāca and falls to the ground; in the same sequence, Bhīmasena strikes down the prince Kratha with a nārāca, sending him to Yama’s realm.