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
sārathiṁ cāsya bhallena preṣayāmāsa mṛtyave | chittvā ca kārmukaṁ tūrṇaṁ pāṇḍavasya āśu patriṇā | rājendra |
三阇耶说道：他以锋利的婆罗（bhalla）箭将那战士的御者送入死神之域；继而迅疾以羽箭斩断般度之子的弓。王啊，迦尔纳仿佛含笑，不费多力，顷刻之间便使那可怖而强悍的毗摩塞那失却战车。
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.