Shloka 5
कर्णवधप्रसङ्गः / The Context of Karṇa’s Fall
Krishna’s Dharmic Recollection and the Decisive Astra
ततो रणे भारत दुष्प्रकम्प्य आचार्यपुत्र: प्रवर: कुरूणाम् । मार्मर्दयामास शितै: पृषत्कै- जनार्दनं चैव विषाग्निकल्पै:,भारत! तदनन्तर कौरवोंके प्रधान वीर दुर्धर्ष आचार्यपुत्रने रणक्षेत्रमें विष और अग्निके समान भयंकर तीखे बाणोंद्वारा मुझे और श्रीकृष्णको पीड़ित करना प्रारम्भ किया
tato raṇe bhārata duṣprakampya ācāryaputraḥ pravaraḥ kurūṇām | mārmardayāmāsa śitaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ janārdanaṃ caiva viṣāgnikalpaiḥ ||
Dann, in jener Schlacht, o Bhārata, begann der Vortrefflichste unter den Kurus—der Sohn des Ācārya, schwer zu erschüttern—mich und Janārdana mit scharfen Pfeilen zu bedrängen, schrecklich wie Gift und Feuer.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical pressure of warfare: formidable skill can become relentless harm, and the righteous response requires steadiness and disciplined action rather than panic or cruelty. It also frames Arjuna’s reliance on Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) amid danger, emphasizing composure and duty under extreme provocation.
In the midst of the battle, Aśvatthāmā (Droṇa’s son), described as a foremost Kuru warrior and difficult to shake, begins striking and tormenting Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa with sharp arrows compared to poison and fire—signaling an intense escalation in the exchange of missiles.