Somadatta’s Kṣātra-Dharma Accusation; Night Combat, Māyā, and the Fall of Ghaṭotkaca
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 131
ततो व्यायच्छतामस्त्रै: पृथक् पृथगजिद्ाागै: । मृदुपूर्व तु राधेयो दृढपूर्व तु पाण्डव:,तदनन्तर वे दोनों वीर एक-दूसरेपर पृथक्-पृथक् सीधे जानेवाले बाणोंका प्रहार करने लगे। राधानन्दन कर्ण मृदुतापूर्वक बाण चलाता था और पाण्डुनन्दन भीमसेन कठोरतापूर्वक
tato vyāyacchatām astraiḥ pṛthak pṛthag ajihmagaiḥ | mṛdu-pūrvaṁ tu rādheyo dṛḍha-pūrvaṁ tu pāṇḍavaḥ ||
قال سنجيا: ثم شرع البطلان يضرب أحدهما الآخر بالسلاح—كلٌّ منهما يرسل سهامًا مستقيمة الطيران تتوالى تباعًا. كان كرنة ابن رادها يطلق نِباله بقدرٍ من التؤدة وضبط النفس، بينما كان الباندڤا (بهيمسينا) يردّ بصلابة وقوة قاسية.
संजय उवाच
Even within the same duty of battle, conduct can vary: one may act with restraint (mṛdu), another with force (dṛḍha). The verse highlights ethical nuance—intensity and self-control are both modes of action, and the narrative invites reflection on intention and temperament in righteous or obligatory conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa and Bhīma exchange volleys of straight-flying arrows. Karṇa’s shooting is described as comparatively restrained, while Bhīma’s response is described as more forceful and hard-hitting.