Shloka 59
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
कर्णोडपि समरे राजनू् धर्मपुत्रमरिंदमम् | स शरैश्छादयामास सारथिं चाप्यपातयत्,राजन! कर्णने भी समरांगणमें शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरको बाणोंसे आच्छादित कर दिया और सारथिको भी मार गिराया
sañjaya uvāca | karṇo 'pi samare rājan dharmaputram ariṃdamam | sa śaraiś chādayāmāsa sārathiṃ cāpy apātayat ||
三阇耶说道：“大王啊！在激战之中，迦尔那亦以箭雨遮蔽达摩之子坚战——那位降伏仇敌者——并且还击倒了他的御者。此景昭示：在战争里，纵然正义之人也难免承受无情的压迫；而战车赖以支撑的御者一旦被废，便成为伦理与战术上都足以定局的转折点。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh impartiality of war: personal righteousness does not shield one from violence, and the removal of a supporter (the charioteer) can decisively alter outcomes—inviting reflection on the ethical cost of victory and the vulnerability of even dhārmic figures in kṣatriya conflict.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa attacks Yudhiṣṭhira in battle, overwhelms him with a dense volley of arrows, and additionally brings down Yudhiṣṭhira’s charioteer, thereby impairing his chariot’s effectiveness.