Shloka 24
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
महाराज! तब महारथी द्रोणपुत्रने कुपित होकर अर्जुनपर ऐन्द्रास्त्रद्वारा वेगपूर्वक बाणोंकी वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
mahārāja! tadā mahārathī droṇaputro kupito 'rjunam aindrāstreṇa vegapūrvakaṃ śaravarṣaṃ prārabhata ||
tasyendrajālāvatataṃ samīkṣya pārtho rājan gāṇḍīvam ādade saḥ |
aindraṃ jālaṃ pratyaharat tarasvī varāstram ādāya mahendrasṛṣṭam ||
Sañjaya sprach: O König, da begann Aśvatthāman, Droṇas Sohn, der große Wagenheld, im Zorn Arjuna mit einem schnellen, wuchtigen Pfeilhagel durch Indras Waffe zu überschütten. Als Pārtha das weite Ausbreiten des «Netzes Indras» sah — ein verwirrendes Trugwerk — ergriff er den Bogen Gāṇḍīva; und gestützt auf ein erlesenes Geschoss, von Mahendra selbst geschaffen, wehrte der Mächtige es ab und zerschlug jene indrageborene Täuschung.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid deceptive tactics and anger-driven aggression, a dharmic warrior responds with clarity, restraint, and an appropriate countermeasure rather than fear or uncontrolled retaliation. Discernment (seeing through illusion) and disciplined use of power are presented as ethical strengths.
Aśvatthāman, furious, unleashes Indra-associated weaponry and spreads an ‘Indra-jāla’ illusion on the battlefield. Arjuna recognizes the stratagem, takes up his Gāṇḍīva, and uses a superior Indra-made missile to neutralize and destroy the illusion.