Shloka 22
Abhimanyunidhana-prakāśaḥ — Vasudeva–Kṛṣṇa–Subhadrā–Kuntī śoka-saṃvāda
Disclosure and Consolation
हते कर्णे तु कौरव्या निरुत्साहा हतौजस: । अक्षौहिणीभिस्तिसूभिमरद्रेशं पर्यवारयन्
hate karṇe tu kauravyā nirutsāhā hataujasaḥ | akṣauhiṇībhis tisṛbhir madrādheśaṃ paryavārayan |
Vāsudeva nói: Khi Karṇa đã bị hạ sát, quân Kaurava mất cả quyết tâm lẫn sức mạnh. Rồi họ tôn Śalya, vua xứ Madra, làm tổng chỉ huy; lấy ba đạo akṣauhiṇī vây quanh che chở cho ông, và lại tiếp tục giao chiến.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical reality of war: the fall of a key warrior can collapse collective morale, yet armies often continue out of perceived duty and loyalty under new command—raising questions about steadfastness, responsibility, and the costs of ambition.
After Karṇa’s death, the Kaurava forces become dispirited and weakened. They then install Śalya, the king of Madra, as commander and protect him with three akṣauhiṇī formations, thereby continuing the fighting.