Shloka 17
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)
तया तु वीरघातिन्या शक्त्या त्वभिहतो भूशम् । निर्भिन्नहदयस्तूर्ण निषपपात रथान्महीम्,उस वीरघातिनी शक्तिकी गहरी चोट खाकर वीरधन्वाका वक्ष:स्थल विदीर्ण हो गया और वह तुरंत ही रथसे पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
tayā tu vīraghātinyā śaktyā tv abhihato bhūśam | nirbhinnahṛdayas tūrṇaṃ niṣpapāta rathān mahīm ||
Sañjaya sprach: Von jener heldentötenden Lanze schwer getroffen, wurde er grausam verwundet; sein Herz war durchbohrt, und sogleich stürzte er aus dem Wagen zur Erde.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark ethical reality of war: even the valiant are vulnerable, and martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) unfolds amid irreversible consequences—injury, death, and the collapse of worldly power in an instant.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior is struck severely by a śakti (spear/javelin) described as 'hero-slaying'; his heart is pierced, and he immediately falls from his chariot to the ground.