Shloka 17
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
तेषां निनदतां चैव शस्त्रवर्ष च मुज्चताम् । बहूनाधिरथिरवीर: प्रममाथ्ेषुभि: परान्,जोर-जोरसे गर्जते तथा अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंकी वर्षा करते हुए उन शत्रुसैनिकोंमेंसे बहुतोंको वीर कर्णने अपने बाणोंसे मथ डाला
teṣāṁ ninadatāṁ caiva śastravarṣaṁ ca muñcatām | bahūn ādhirathir vīraḥ pramamātha eṣubhiḥ parān ||
তারা গর্জন করতে করতে অস্ত্রশস্ত্রের বৃষ্টি ঝরাচ্ছিল; তখন অধিরথ-পুত্র বীর কর্ণ নিজের শরবাণে শত্রুপক্ষের বহুজনকে চূর্ণ-বিচূর্ণ করে দিলেন।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield reality that martial skill and determination can overwhelm opponents, while implicitly reminding the listener that war—though pursued as kṣatriya-duty—carries severe ethical gravity due to the mass destruction it entails.
Amid loud battle-cries and a shower of weapons from the opposing fighters, Karṇa responds with superior archery, striking down many enemies with his arrows; Sañjaya reports this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra as part of the unfolding combat.