Shloka 51
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
इसी प्रकार उस युद्धस्थलमें आपकी सेनाको संताप देते हुए पाण्डुकुमार भीमसेनने सौसे भी अधिक रथों और दूसरे सैकड़ों पैदल सैनिकोंका संहार कर डाला ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
iti prakāraṃ tasmin yuddhasthale tava senāṃ santāpayann api pāṇḍukumāro bhīmasenaḥ śatād api adhikān rathān anyāṃś ca śatasaṅkhyān padātīn saṃharitavān ||
pratāpyamānaṃ sūryeṇa bhīmena ca mahātmanā |
tava sainyaṃ saṃcukoca carmāgnāv āhitaṃ yathā ||
tad-anantaraṃ pāṇḍava-kuru-mahārathāḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ bāṇaiḥ praharantaḥ parasparaṃ kṣata-vikṣataṃ cakruḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Sa gayong paraan, sa larangan ng digmaan, si Bhīmasena—anak ni Pāṇḍu—ay patuloy na nagpasakit at nagpaalab sa iyong mga kawal, at nilipol ang mahigit sandaang karwaheng pandigma, pati daan-daang iba pang kawal na naglalakad. Habang naglalagablab ang araw sa itaas at si Bhīma, ang dakilang-loob, ay nag-aapoy ng sindak sa ibaba, ang iyong hukbo, O Hari, ay umurong at lumiit na parang balat na inilalapit sa apoy. Pagkaraan nito, ang mga dakilang mandirigmang nakasakay sa karwahe ng Pāṇḍava at Kuru, na humahataw ng mga palasong matalas na parang labaha, ay nagsimulang magsugatan at magpunitan sa isa’t isa sa masinsin at walang patid na sagupaan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how external conditions (the blazing sun) and human agency (Bhīma’s relentless assault) together can collapse morale and cohesion in war. Ethically, it underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension: even when warriors act within kṣatriya-duty, the cumulative suffering and dehumanizing momentum of battle are starkly exposed through vivid imagery.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Bhīma, son of Pāṇḍu, is devastating the Kaurava forces—destroying over a hundred chariots and many foot-soldiers. Under the combined pressure of the sun’s heat and Bhīma’s attack, the army ‘shrinks’ like leather held over fire. Then the elite chariot-warriors of both sides close in and wound each other with sharp arrows.