Shloka 18
तेषां धनूंषि ध्वजवाजिसूतां- स्तूर्ण पताकाश्न निकृत्य बाणै: । तान् पज्चभि स्त्वभ्यहनत् पृषत्कैः कर्णस्ततः सिंह इवोन्ननाद,कर्णने अपने बार्णोद्वारा तुरंत ही उनके धनुष, ध्वज, घोड़े, सारथि और पताकाएँ काट डालीं और पाँच बाणोंसे उन पाँचों वीरोंको भी घायल कर दिया। तत्पश्चात् वह सिंहके समान दहाड़ने लगा
teṣāṃ dhanūṃṣi dhvaja-vāji-sūtāṃs tūrṇaṃ patākāś ca nikṛtya bāṇaiḥ | tān pañcabhiḥ stv abhyahanat pṛṣatkaiḥ karṇas tataḥ siṃha ivonnanāda ||
Sañjaya sprach: Karṇa schnitt mit seinen Pfeilen in jäher Schnelle ihre Bögen, ihre Standarten, ihre Pferde, ihre Wagenlenker und ihre Wimpel ab. Dann traf er jene fünf Krieger auch selbst mit fünf scharfen Geschossen und verwundete sie. Darauf brüllte Karṇa wie ein Löwe.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic where skill, speed, and psychological dominance (the lion-like roar) function as instruments of kṣatriya-duty. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of disciplined martial conduct with the harsh reality that war rewards decisive disabling of an opponent’s means—bows, standards, horses, and charioteers—before striking the fighters themselves.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa rapidly disables the opposing side by cutting their bows and key chariot components (banner, horses, charioteer, flags). He then wounds the five warriors with five arrows and roars like a lion, signaling dominance and rallying his side while intimidating the enemy.