Shloka 9
विदार्य नागाश्वरथान् धनंजय: शरोत्तमैर्वांसववज्ञसंनिभै: । द्रुतं ययौ कर्णजिघांसया तथा यथा मरुत्वान् बलभेदने पुरा
sañjaya uvāca | vidārya nāgāśvarathān dhanañjayaḥ śarottamair vāṃsavavajñasaṃnibhaiḥ | drutaṃ yayau karṇajighāṃsayā tathā yathā marutvān balabhedane purā ||
Sañjaya sprach: Nachdem Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) mit erlesenen Pfeilen, Indras Donnerkeil gleich, die Elefanten, Pferde und Streitwagen des Feindes durchbohrt und zerrissen hatte, stürmte er eilends voran, fest entschlossen, Karṇa zu töten — wie einst der Herr der Maruts ausfuhr, um den Dämon Bala zu vernichten. Der Vers rahmt Arjunas Vorstoß als zielgerichtete, vom Pflichtgefühl getragene Kampfentschlossenheit, einem göttlichen Akt vergleichbar, der eine zerstörerische Macht entfernt.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights concentrated resolve in the performance of one’s appointed duty: Arjuna’s single-minded advance is portrayed as purposeful removal of a destructive power, using a divine simile (Indra destroying Bala) to underscore decisive action aligned with the warrior’s role in a righteous war.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna pressing forward rapidly on the battlefield, cutting through opposing elephants, horses, and chariots with exceptionally powerful arrows, driven by the intention to reach and slay Karṇa.