Shloka 123
Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation
अभ्राजेतां यथा मेघं सूर्याग्नी सहितौ दिवि । जैसे आकाशमें किसी महान् मेघखण्डपर एक साथ बैठे हुए सूर्य और अग्नि प्रकाशित हो रहे हों, उसी प्रकार सूर्य और अग्निके समान तेजस्वी कर्ण और शल्य उस एक ही रथपर आरूढ़ हो बड़ी शोभा पाने लगे
abhrājetāṁ yathā meghaṁ sūryāgnī sahitau divi |
三阇耶说道：“他们如同天空中在云团之上并耀的太阳与火焰一般光辉。迦尔那与沙利耶——灿然若日与火——同登一车，显出无比的华彩。”此喻凸显战争阴沉的壮丽：一方武力与盟契耀眼夺目，然而在这场纷争中，外在辉煌并不保证正义或吉祥的结局。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward brilliance—power, charisma, and martial splendor—can be striking, yet it remains ethically neutral. In the Mahābhārata’s war context, such radiance can accompany adharma as easily as dharma, reminding readers to judge actions by righteousness and consequence rather than mere grandeur.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa and his charioteer Śalya seated together on a single chariot. Their combined presence is portrayed through a vivid simile: like the sun and fire shining together against a great cloud-mass in the sky, emphasizing their formidable, awe-inspiring appearance on the battlefield.