Shloka 25
ते कर्णमासाद्य महाप्रभावा: सुतेजना गार्ध्रपत्रा: सुवेगा: । गात्रेषु सर्वेषु हयेषु चापि शरासने युगचक्रे ध्वजे च,वे महाप्रभावशाली गीधके पंखोंसे युक्त, तेज धारवाले और अतिशय वेगवान् अस्त्र कर्णके पास पहुँचकर उसके समस्त अंगोंमें, घोड़ोंपर, धनुषमें तथा रथके जूओं, पहियों और ध्वजोंमें जा लगे
te karṇam āsādya mahāprabhāvāḥ sutejanā gārdhrapatrāḥ suvegāḥ | gātreṣu sarveṣu hayeṣu cāpi śarāsane yugacakre dhvaje ca ||
Sañjaya sprach: Jene Pfeile — von gewaltiger Wirkung, scharfkantig, mit Geierfedern befiedert und überaus schnell — erreichten Karṇa und trafen ihn überall: in all seine Glieder, auch in seine Pferde und in seinen Bogen; sie bohrten sich zudem in Joch, Räder und Banner seines Streitwagens.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, force and skill can dismantle not only a warrior’s body but also the supports of his power—horses, bow, and chariot. Ethically, it points to the fragility of martial agency and the grave, cascading consequences of choosing the battlefield as the arena for resolving conflict.
Sañjaya describes a volley of exceptionally swift, sharp arrows reaching Karṇa and embedding in his limbs and equipment. The attack also strikes his horses and damages key chariot components—yoke, wheels, and banner—depicting Karṇa being heavily pressured and his mobility and combat capacity being threatened.