Mahabharata 7.141.87 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 141, Shloka 87
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
हस्त्यड्रान्यथ कर्णाय प्राहिणोत् पाण्डुनन्दन: । चक्राण्यश्वांस्तथा चान्यद् यद् यत् पश्यति भूतले
hasty-aḍrān atha karṇāya prāhiṇot pāṇḍu-nandanaḥ | cakrāṇy aśvāṁs tathā cānyad yad yat paśyati bhūtale ||
Sañjaya sprach: Da schleuderte der Sohn Pāṇḍus eine gewaltige Elefantenmasse gegen Karṇa. Auch Wagenräder, tote Pferde und alles, was er am Boden liegen sah, riss er im Zorn an sich und warf es nach Karṇa. Doch was immer geworfen wurde, Karṇa schlug es mit seinen scharfen Pfeilen nieder und zerschnitt es. So zeigt sich, wie die Wut im Kampf jedes greifbare Mittel erfasst, während disziplinierte Kriegskunst mit beherrschter, präziser Gewalt antwortet.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage contrasts uncontrolled rage—using whatever objects lie at hand as weapons—with disciplined mastery, as Karṇa repeatedly neutralizes incoming projectiles. Ethically, it highlights how inner control and trained skill can prevail over impulsive violence, even amid the chaos of war.
Sañjaya describes Bhīma (the Pāṇḍava) hurling an elephant-mass and then battlefield debris like chariot wheels and horses at Karṇa. Karṇa counters by slicing each thrown object apart with sharp arrows, demonstrating superior precision under pressure.
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