Shloka 53
अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्
Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
प्रादुश्षक्रे महाराज त्रासयन् सर्वभारतान् । नरेश्वर! तदनन्तर महाबाहु अर्जुनने कुपित हो कौरव-सेनाके समस्त सैनिकोंको भयभीत करते हुए दुर्धर्ष इन्द्रास्त्रको प्रकट किया,द्रौर्णि पज्चाशताविध्यद् वृषसेन त्रिभि: शरै: । कृपायमाण: कौन्तेय: कृपं॑ नवभिरार्दयत् उन्होंने अश्वत्थामाकों पचास और वृषसेनको तीन बाणोंसे बींध डाला। कृपाचार्यको कृपापूर्वक केवल नौ बाण मारे
sañjaya uvāca |
prāduścakre mahārāja trāsayan sarvabhāratān |
nareśvara tad-anantaraṃ mahābāhur arjunaḥ kupitaḥ kaurava-senāyāḥ samastān sainikān bhayabhītān kurvan durdharṣam indrāstram prāduścakāra |
drauṇiṃ pañcāśatā vidhyad vṛṣasenaṃ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ |
kṛpāyamāṇaḥ kaunteyaḥ kṛpaṃ navabhir ārdayat ||
Sañjaya said: O King, then Arjuna—mighty-armed and inflamed with wrath—manifested the irresistible Indra-weapon, terrifying the whole Kaurava host and striking dread into the Bharata warriors. He pierced Droṇa’s son, Aśvatthāman, with fifty arrows, and Vṛṣasena with three. Yet toward Kṛpa the son of Kuntī showed restraint and compassion, afflicting him with only nine arrows in deference to a venerable foe.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a just battle, power should be governed by discernment: Arjuna unleashes a fearsome divine weapon against grave threats, yet moderates his violence toward a venerable elder (Kṛpa), illustrating restraint and respect within kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, enraged, manifests the Indra-weapon and terrifies the Kaurava ranks. He wounds Aśvatthāman heavily (fifty arrows), strikes Vṛṣasena (three arrows), and then, showing compassion, hits Kṛpa with only nine arrows rather than overwhelming him.