Shloka 41
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे । छित्त्वा च कार्मुकं तूर्ण पाण्डवस्याशु पत्रिणा,राजेन्द्र! फिर एक भल्लसे उनके सारथिको यमलोक भेज दिया और तुरंत ही एक बाणसे उनके धनुषको भी काटकर बिना विशेष कष्टके ही मुहूर्तभरमें हँसते हुए-से कर्णने भयंकर पराक्रमी भीमसेनको रथहीन कर दिया
sārathiṁ cāsya bhallena preṣayāmāsa mṛtyave | chittvā ca kārmukaṁ tūrṇaṁ pāṇḍavasya āśu patriṇā | rājendra |
پھر ایک بھلّہ تیر سے اس نے اس کے سارتھی کو موت کے حوالے کر دیا۔ اور فوراً ہی ایک پر دار تیر سے پاندوپتر کا کمان بھی کاٹ ڈالا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the ethics of epic warfare, tactical precision can instantly overturn a warrior’s position: by removing the charioteer and cutting the bow, Karṇa neutralizes Bhīma’s capacity to fight effectively. It also points to the ever-present reality of mṛtyu (death) in battle—status and strength are fragile when confronted by skill and circumstance.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa strikes down the opponent’s charioteer with a bhalla-arrow and then quickly cuts the Pāṇḍava’s bow with another arrow, leaving Bhīmasena without a functioning chariot setup—effectively rendering him ‘rathahīna’ (chariotless/disabled in chariot-combat) for the moment.