Shloka 14
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
यदा वै त्वां फाल्गुनवेगयुक्ता ज्याचोदिता हस्तवता विसृष्टा: । अन्वेतार: कड्कपत्रा: सिताग्रा- स्तदा तप्स्यस्यर्जुनस्थानुयोगात्,“कर्ण! अर्जुनके वेगसे युक्त हो उनकी प्रत्यंचासे प्रेरित और सुशिक्षित हाथोंसे छोड़े हुए तीखी धारवाले कंकपत्रविभूषित बाण जब तुम्हारे शरीरमें घुसने लगेंगे, तब जो तुम अर्जुनको पूछते फिरते हो, इसके लिये पश्चात्ताप करोगे
sañjaya uvāca |
yadā vai tvāṃ phālgunavega-yuktā jyā-coditā hasta-vatā visṛṣṭāḥ |
anvetāraḥ kaṅka-patrāḥ sitāgrās tadā tapsyasy arjuna-sthānu-yogāt ||
Sanjaya said: When those arrows—borne on the speed of Phalguna (Arjuna), driven by the bowstring and loosed by his well-trained hand—adorned with vulture-feathers and tipped with bright, keen points, begin to pierce your body, then you will repent, for your stubborn insistence on challenging Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against stubborn pride and needless provocation: when one knowingly challenges a superior force out of obstinacy, suffering follows, and repentance comes too late. Martial confidence must be tempered by discernment and humility.
Sanjaya foretells to Dhritarashtra (and addresses Karna in the quoted warning) that Arjuna’s swift, expertly released arrows—feathered and sharp—will pierce Karna, and that Karna will then regret his persistent fixation on confronting Arjuna.