Shloka 463
अष्टाभिरष्टौ राधेयो<भ्यर्दयन्निशितै: शरै: । नरेन्द्र! प्रतापी राधापुत्र कर्णने दूरसे युद्ध करनेवाले उन आठों वीरोंको आठ पैने बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
aṣṭābhir aṣṭau rādheyo 'bhyardayann niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | narendra pratāpī rādhāputraḥ karṇaḥ dūrastha-yuddha-kāriṇaḥ tān aṣṭau vīrān aṣṭabhiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ bāṇaiḥ vyathayām āsa |
Sañjaya said: O king, the mighty Radheya—Karna, son of Radha—struck those eight warriors who were fighting from a distance, wounding each of them with eight razor-sharp arrows.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily highlights martial efficacy rather than a direct moral maxim: in the chaos of war, prowess and precision can decisively shape outcomes. Ethically, it reflects the Mahabharata’s recurring tension—heroic skill is admirable, yet it operates within a destructive arena where victory is purchased through injury and loss.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Karna (Radheya), displaying great might, shoots and wounds eight opposing warriors—each struck by sharp arrows—especially noting that they were fighting from a distance.