Shloka 23
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms
वर्मदेहासुम थनैर्धनुष: प्रच्युतै: शरैः । मौर्व्या तलत्रे न्यहनत् कशया वाजिनो यथा
sañjaya uvāca | varmādehāsūn mathanair dhanuṣaḥ pracyutaiḥ śaraiḥ | maurvyā talatre nyahanat kaśayā vājino yathā ||
যেমন অশ্বারোহী চাবুক দিয়ে ঘোড়াকে আঘাত করে, তেমনই কর্ণ ধনুক থেকে ছুটে আসা—বর্ম, দেহ ও প্রাণ মথনকারী—বাণে শত্রুদের ধনুর্জ্যা (মৌর্বী) ও হস্তত্রাণে আঘাত করতে লাগল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how technical excellence in war can be ethically ambivalent: the same disciplined skill that reflects a kshatriya’s training becomes a force that destroys bodies, armour, and life. It invites reflection on responsibility and the moral weight of prowess when used for harm.
Sanjaya describes Karna’s fierce archery: he releases arrows that devastate opponents, striking their protective gear and even disabling their fighting capacity, likening his repeated blows to a rider whipping horses.