Shloka 7
कर्णपर्व — चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः
Arjuna’s Suppression of the Saṃśaptakas; Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Admonition; Battlefield Inventory
ततो द्रौणिं रणे भीमो यतमानं पराक्रमी । त्रिभिविंव्याध नाराचैर्ललाटे विस्मयन्निव,तत्पश्चात् पराक्रमी भीमसेनने रणभूमिमें विजयके लिये प्रयत्नशील अश्व॒त्थामाके ललाटमें भी मुसकराते हुए-से तीन नाराचोंका प्रहार किया
tato drauṇiṁ raṇe bhīmo yatamānaṁ parākramī | tribhir vivyādha nārācair lalāṭe vismayann iva ||
Sañjaya said: “Then, in the thick of battle, the mighty Bhīma struck Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman—who was striving fiercely for victory—with three nārāca arrows on the forehead, as though with a grim, astonished smile.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, sheer prowess and the drive for victory can dominate conduct; it implicitly warns that when conflict escalates, ethical restraint becomes harder to maintain, even for great heroes.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīma, fighting powerfully on the battlefield, hits Aśvatthāman (Drauṇi) on the forehead with three nārāca arrows while Aśvatthāman is striving for victory.