उपप्रैक्षन्त पाञ्चालाः स्मयमानाः सराजकाः ॥
तथैव तावका राजन् घूर्णमानास् ततस् ततः ॥
चुक्रुशुर् नेदम् अस्तीति द्रोणद्रौणिकृपादयः ॥
तत् कर्म दृष्ट्वा संभ्रान्ता हैडिम्बस्य रणाजिरे ॥
सर्वम् आविग्नम् अभवद् धाहाभूतम् अचेतनम् ॥
तव सैन्यं महाराज निराशं कर्णजीविते ॥
दुर्योधनस् तु संप्रेक्ष्य कर्णम् आर्तिं परां गतम् ॥
अलायुधं राक्षसेन्द्रम् आहूयेदम् अथाब्रवीत् ॥
upapraikṣanta pāñcālāḥ smayamānāḥ sarājakāḥ ||
tathaiva tāvakā rājan ghūrṇamānās tatas tataḥ ||
cukruśur nedam astīti droṇadrauṇikṛpādayaḥ ||
tat karma dṛṣṭvā saṃbhrāntā haiḍimbasya raṇājire ||
sarvam āvignam abhavad dhāhābhūtam acetanam ||
tava sainyaṃ mahārāja nirāśaṃ karṇajīvite ||
duryodhanas tu saṃprekṣya karṇam ārtiṃ parāṃ gatam ||
alāyudhaṃ rākṣasendram āhūyedam athābravīt ||
The Panchalas looked on, smiling, together with their kings; likewise your men, O king, staggering to and fro, cried: "This shall not be!" — Drona, Drauni, Kripa, and the rest, alarmed at seeing that deed on the field of battle of the son of Hidimba. Everything grew agitated, turning into wailing, senseless — your army, O great king, despairing of the life of Karna. And Duryodhana, seeing Karna fallen into extreme distress, summoned Alayudha, lord of rakshasas, and then spoke thus.
1b210e09abf8 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:58:10 PM UTC
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The Panchalas watch "smiling," while the Kuru camp cries out in despair: one and the same sight is seen with opposite hearts. It is telling that even Drona and Kripa, men of steady resolve, cry "this shall not be" — the deeds of Ghatotkacha exceeded all expectation. The verse teaches that the course of a battle shapes the spirit of armies as well: where some rejoice, others freeze; and despair, taking hold even of the wise, is half of defeat — for one who has lost heart is already half broken.