Shloka 15
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
हयाश्व पर्यधावन्त मुक्तयोक््त्रास्ततस्तत: । तद् दृष्टवा कर्म पार्थस्य द्रौणिराहवशोभिन:
hayāśvā paryadhāvanta muktayoktrāstatastataḥ | tad dṛṣṭvā karma pārthasya drauṇir āhavaśobhinaḥ, avākiruttato drauṇiḥ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
Sañjaya sprach: „Die Pferde, deren Joche und Geschirre sich gelöst hatten, begannen in alle Richtungen davonzustieben. Als Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā), der Sohn Droṇas, jene Tat Pārthas (Arjunas) sah, so glänzend im Gedränge der Schlacht, eilte er heran und überschüttete Arjuna von allen Seiten mit scharfen Pfeilen, um seine Kraft zu zügeln inmitten der Forderungen des Krieges, die gerecht scheinen und doch verwüsten.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly battlefield conditions shift: a moment of disruption (horses breaking loose) is met by immediate tactical response. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya world where valor and counter-valor operate within the harsh logic of war—prowess invites challenge, and duty compels engagement even when the consequences are severe.
The horses, freed from their harness, scatter in different directions. Observing Arjuna’s striking action amid the battle, Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) rushes toward him and attacks by surrounding him with a dense shower of sharp arrows from all sides.