Shloka 45
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
वाराहकर्णर्दशभिरविध्यदसिचर्मणी । इस प्रकार आक्रमण करते हुए वृषसेनकी तलवार और ढालको सात्यकिने वाराहकर्ण नामक दस बाणोंद्वारा शीघ्र ही खण्डित कर दिया || ४४ $ ।।
vārāhakarṇair daśabhir avidhyad asi-carmaṇī |
iti prakāram ākramaṇaṃ kurvatā vṛṣasenasyāsiṃ ca carma ca sātyakinā vārāhakarṇa-nāmabhir daśabhir bāṇaiḥ śīghram eva khaṇḍitaṃ ||
duḥśāsanas tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā virathaṃ vyāyudhaṃ kṛtam ...
Sañjaya said: Sātyaki struck Vṛṣasena’s sword and shield with ten arrows known as “Vārāhakarṇa.” Thus, as Vṛṣasena pressed his attack, Sātyaki swiftly shattered his blade and buckler. Seeing him made chariotless and deprived of weapons, Duḥśāsana then…
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the harsh arena of war, mastery is shown not merely by killing but by controlled superiority—here, disarming the opponent. The episode highlights kṣatriya-dharma as skill, courage, and tactical restraint, while also showing how violence tends to escalate as new warriors intervene.
Sātyaki counters Vṛṣasena’s aggressive advance by striking his sword and shield with ten specialized arrows called Vārāhakarṇa, breaking them and leaving him effectively disarmed; Duḥśāsana sees this and prepares to respond.