Shloka 56
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
तान् सूतपुत्रो विशिखैर्दशभिर्दशभि: शरै: | रथेनानुचरन् वीर: प्रत्यविध्यदरिंदम:,रथसे विचरनेवाले शत्रुदमन वीर सूतपुत्र कर्णने भी उन सबको दस-दस बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
tān sūtaputro viśikhair daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ | rathenānucaran vīraḥ pratyavidhyad arindamaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Karṇa, the charioteer’s son—moving swiftly in his chariot—struck all of them in return, each with ten sharp arrows. The verse underscores the relentless reciprocity of battle: prowess is displayed through measured retaliation, yet the scene also reflects the tragic momentum of war where skill and duty operate within a cycle of wounding and counter-wounding.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-code context of the epic: in battle, response is immediate and proportionate, showcasing discipline and skill. Ethically, it also points to the grim reciprocity of war—valor functions within a cycle that multiplies harm even when each act is ‘duty-bound’.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, maneuvering his chariot, counterattacks and wounds the opposing warriors, striking each of them with ten arrows.