Shloka 613
मुष्टिदेशे धनुस्तस्य चिच्छेद त्वरयान्वित: । तदनन्तर महाधनुर्धर अर्जुनने कर्णका पराक्रम देखकर उसके धनुषको मुट्ठी पकड़नेकी जगहसे शीघ्रतापूर्वक काट दिया
muṣṭideśe dhanus tasya ciccheda tvarayānvitaḥ | tadanantaraṃ mahādhanurdharaḥ arjunena karṇasya parākramaṃ dṛṣṭvā tasya dhanuḥ muṣṭigrahaṇadeśāt śīghratayā chinnaṃ |
Sañjaya said: With swift precision, Arjuna cut Karṇa’s bow at the very point where it was gripped by the fist. Seeing Karṇa’s formidable prowess, the great archer acted without delay, disabling the weapon at its most effective hold in the heat of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a dharmic war narrative, skill is joined to discernment: rather than striking blindly, a warrior may neutralize the immediate threat by disabling the opponent’s weapon. The verse highlights alertness, speed, and tactical choice under pressure.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, observing Karṇa’s powerful fighting, swiftly severs Karṇa’s bow at the grip-point, rendering it ineffective and checking Karṇa’s momentum in the battle.