Shloka 19
दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat
ततो दश दिश: कर्ण: शलभैरिव यायिभि:
tato daśa diśaḥ karṇaḥ śalabhair iva yāyibhiḥ
Sañjaya said: Thereafter, Karṇa’s movements spread in all ten directions, like swarms of flying moths—restless, swift, and everywhere at once—signaling the overwhelming surge of battle where force and momentum begin to eclipse restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a simile to show how, in war, a powerful warrior’s activity can become all-pervading and uncontrollable—suggesting an ethical warning: when conflict escalates, it spreads rapidly and overwhelms boundaries, making restraint and discernment harder to maintain.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa’s rapid, wide-ranging movement on the battlefield. The comparison to swarming, flying moths conveys speed, multitude-like presence, and the sense that Karṇa’s attacks or maneuvers are appearing in every direction.