Shloka 16
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
दृष्टवा विनिहतं बाणं शरै: कर्णो विशाम्पते । सात्यकिं शरवर्षेण समन्तात् पर्यवारयत्,प्रजापालक नरेश! सात्यकिके बाणोंसे अपने बाणको नष्ट हुआ देख कर्णने चारों ओरसे बाण बरसाकर सात्यकिको ढक दिया
dṛṣṭvā vinihataṃ bāṇaṃ śaraiḥ karṇo viśāmpate | sātyakiṃ śaravarṣeṇa samantāt paryavārayat ||
Sañjaya sprach: O Herr des Volkes, als Karṇa sah, dass sein Geschoss von Sātyakis Pfeilen zerschmettert war, erwiderte er mit einem Pfeilregen von allen Seiten und schloss Sātyaki ringsum ein.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic in epic warfare: when one’s effort is thwarted, a kṣatriya responds with renewed intensity and tactical counteraction. It also hints at the moral tension of battle—excellence and determination operate within a destructive arena governed by duty and rivalry.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa sees his arrow neutralized by Sātyaki’s shafts. In response, Karṇa unleashes a dense, all-sided barrage of arrows, effectively surrounding and screening Sātyaki under a ‘rain of arrows.’