Shloka 26
कर्णार्जुनयुद्ध-प्रवृत्तिः
Renewal of the Karṇa–Arjuna Engagement at Day’s End
अज्जोगतिभिरायम्य प्रयत्नाद् धनुरुत्तमम् । नाराचैरहनन्नागान् नकुल: कुलनन्दन:
ajyogatibhir āyamya prayatnād dhanur uttamam | nārācair ahanan nāgān nakulaḥ kulanandanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: With swift, well-aimed movements, Nakula—delight of his lineage—drew his excellent bow with effort and struck down the elephants with sharp iron arrows. The verse underscores disciplined skill and determined exertion in the midst of war, where prowess is displayed through controlled action rather than mere fury.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights controlled strength: excellence in action comes from disciplined technique (proper drawing of the bow) joined with deliberate effort (prayatna), even amid the chaos of battle.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula draws his fine bow with force and precision and, using iron arrows, brings down the enemy’s war-elephants—an image of tactical effectiveness and martial competence.