Shloka 376
कर्णवधार्थं धनञ्जयस्य प्रतिज्ञा — Arjuna’s resolve for Karṇa’s defeat
नानावादित्रनिनदा: सिंहनादाश्न जज्ञिरे उन बाणोंकी गहरी चोट खाकर अर्जुन व्यथित हो रथके पिछले भागमें बैठ गये। फिर तो सब लोग जोर-जोरसे चिल्लाकर कहने लगे कि “अर्जुन मारे गये!! उस समय शंख बजने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | nānā-vāditra-ninadāḥ siṃha-nādāś ca jajñire | tān bāṇānāṃ gāḍha-prahāraṃ prāpya arjunaḥ vyathitaḥ rathasya paścād-bhāge niṣasāda | tataḥ sarve janāḥ uccaiḥ-śabdena praruruvuḥ—“arjuno hataḥ!” iti | tasmin kāle śaṅkhāḥ prāduḥśabdam akurvan, bherīṇāṃ gambhīrā dhvaniḥ prasasāra, nānā-vidha-vādyānāṃ ninādaiḥ sārdhaṃ yodhānāṃ siṃha-garjanā api babhūva |
Sañjaya sprach: Ein Getöse vieler Instrumente erhob sich, dazu Löwenrufe. Vom tiefen, durchdringenden Schlag jener Pfeile getroffen, wurde Arjuna erschüttert und setzte sich nach hinten in seinen Wagen. Da begannen alle laut zu schreien: „Arjuna ist erschlagen!“ In diesem Augenblick wurden Muschelhörner geblasen, der schwere Klang der großen Trommeln breitete sich aus, und im Lärm der vielfältigen Musik hallten auch die löwengleichen Schlachtrufe der Krieger wider.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how quickly crowds and armies can mistake a temporary reversal for final defeat. Ethically, it cautions against premature triumphalism and urges steadiness of judgment amid the noise and emotion of war.
After receiving a severe volley of arrows, Arjuna is momentarily shaken and sits back in his chariot. Observers loudly proclaim that he has been killed, and the Kaurava side erupts with conches, drums, instruments, and lion-like roars of celebration.