Shloka 20
द्रौणिप्रतिज्ञा–नारायणास्त्रवर्णनम्
Drauṇi’s Vow and the Description of the Nārāyaṇāstra
तत:ः शरसहस्राणि विमुज्चन् विवभौ तदा । कर्णपुत्रो महाराज वर्षमाण इवाम्बुद:,महाराज! तदनन्तर सहस्रों बाणोंका प्रहार करता हुआ कर्णपुत्र वृषसेन जलकी वर्षा करनेवाले मेघके समान सुशोभित होने लगा
tataḥ śarasahasrāṇi vimuñcan vibhau tadā | karṇaputro mahārāja varṣamāṇa ivāmbudaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then, releasing thousands of arrows, Karṇa’s son shone forth, O King—like a rain-bearing cloud pouring down its shower. The image evokes the overwhelming, almost impersonal force of martial skill: prowess becomes a deluge that tests endurance, resolve, and a warrior’s dharma amid the harsh ethics of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the arena of kṣatriya-dharma, disciplined skill and relentless effort can become an overwhelming force. Ethically, it points to the grim reality that duty-driven warfare often manifests as impersonal devastation—like rain from a cloud—testing restraint, courage, and steadfastness.
Sañjaya describes Vṛṣasena, Karṇa’s son, unleashing a massive volley of arrows. His brilliance and the sheer volume of missiles are compared to a cloud pouring rain, emphasizing the intensity and momentum of the battle at this moment.