Shloka 10
ततोअतुलैर्वज़निपातकल्पै: शितै: शरै: काञ्चनचित्रपुड्खै: । शत्रून् व्यपोहत् समरे महात्मा वैकर्तन: पुत्रहिते रतस्ते,तत्पश्चात् आपके पुत्रके हितमें तत्पर रहनेवाले महामनस्वी वैकर्तन कर्णने समरांगणमें सोनेके विचित्र पंखोंसे युक्त एवं वज्रपातके तुल्य भयंकर, तुलनारहित तीखे बाणोंद्वारा शत्रुओंका संहार आरम्भ किया
tato 'tulair vajranipātakalpaiḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ kāñcanacitra-puṅkhaiḥ | śatrūn vyapohat samare mahātmā vaikartanaḥ putrahite rataḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then the great-souled Karṇa, known as Vaikartana—intent on the welfare of your sons—drove back the enemies in the battle with incomparable, razor-sharp arrows, their golden, variegated fletchings gleaming, and their impact like a thunderbolt’s strike.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal allegiance and the destructive means of war: Karṇa’s devotion to the Kaurava princes strengthens his resolve, showing how loyalty can become a powerful motivator even when expressed through violent action on the battlefield.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa (Vaikartana), acting for the benefit of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons, launches a fierce counteraction—repelling the opposing warriors with exceptionally sharp arrows whose force is compared to a thunderbolt.