Shloka 56
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
तथाश्वरथनागानां कृतं च कदनं महत् । “पुनः लौटे हुए पाण्डव-योद्धाओंने विशाल शत्रुसेनामें भगदड़ मचा दी थी; परंतु अश्वत्थामाके संकल्पके अनुसार कर्णने सुंजयोंका संहार कर डाला तथा अपनी सेनाके हाथी, घोड़े एवं रथोंका भारी विनाश कर दिया”
tathāśvarathanāgānāṁ kṛtaṁ ca kadanaṁ mahat |
三阇耶说道：同样地，在马、战车与大象之间也造成了巨大的杀戮。归来的般度族勇士使敌方浩大军阵惊惶溃散；然而依阿湿婆他摩的决意，迦尔那施行猛烈的毁灭，使对方的象、马与战车遭受沉重损失——这正是战争的势头：意志与报复相互激荡，使灾祸膨胀到难以遏止。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, once battle is fully engaged, determination and retaliation can magnify destruction across all arms of the army (elephants, horses, chariots). Ethically, it highlights the tragic momentum of war: even when one side causes a rout, counter-violence quickly follows, showing how difficult it is to contain harm once dharma is pursued through warfare.
Sañjaya reports that a major carnage occurred among the battlefield’s key military units—elephants, horses, and chariots. The broader context describes returning Pāṇḍava fighters causing panic in the enemy ranks, while Karṇa, aligned with Aśvatthāmā’s intent, responds with severe destruction, inflicting heavy losses in these divisions.