Shloka 24

द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā

Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata

Devanagari script

तां कर्णभुजनिर्मुक्तामर्कवैश्वानरप्रभाम्‌ । शक्ति वियति चिच्छेद भीम: सप्तभिराशुगै:,कर्णके हाथोंसे छूटकर आकाशमें सूर्य और अग्निके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाली उस शक्तिको भीमसेनने सात बाणोंसे आकाशमें ही काट डाला

Transliteration

tāṁ karṇa-bhuja-nirmuktām arka-vaiśvānara-prabhām | śaktiṁ viyati ciccheda bhīmaḥ saptabhir āśugaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Jene Śakti-Waffe, aus Karṇas Arm entsandt und am Himmel leuchtend wie Sonne und Feuer, wurde von Bhīmasena mitten in der Luft mit sieben schnellen Pfeilen zerschnitten—eine Tat, die einen tödlichen Angriff durch Wachsamkeit und kriegerische Selbstbeherrschung im Toben des Krieges aufhält.

Word by Word

ताम्that (her/it)

कर्ण-भुज-निर्मुक्ताम्released from Karna's arm

अर्क-वैश्वानर-प्रभाम्having the radiance of the sun and fire

शक्तिम्the spear/weapon (śakti)

वियतिin the sky

चिच्छेदcut asunder

भीमःBhima

सप्तभिःwith seven

आशुगैःswift (arrows)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

Bhīmasena (Bhīma)

Śakti (weapon)

Sun (Arka)

Fire (Vaiśvānara/Agni)

Sky (Viyat)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even amid violent conflict, vigilance and disciplined skill can neutralize catastrophic harm; the verse highlights controlled, timely action as a protective duty within kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karṇa hurls a blazing śakti-missile; Bhīma responds instantly and, with seven swift arrows, cuts the weapon apart in the air before it can strike.