Shloka 19
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रसभं शरवर्षैरुदारधी: । संछाद्य समरे द्रौणिं चिच्छेदास्प च कार्मुकम्,भारत! रणभूमिमें द्रोणपुत्रके द्वारा अत्यन्त घायल किये गये उदारबुद्धि गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनने समरांगणमें बलपूर्वक बाणोंकी वर्षा करके अश्वत्थामाको ढक दिया और उसके धनुषको भी काट डाला
sañjaya uvāca |
gāṇḍīvadhanvā prasabhaṃ śaravarṣair udāradhīḥ |
saṃchādya samare drauṇiṃ cicchedāspa ca kārmukam |
Sañjaya said: On the battlefield, the noble-minded Arjuna, wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, forcefully covered Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāman with a storm of arrows and cut down his bow as well.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the violence of war, action can be guided by tactical dharma: neutralizing an enemy’s capacity to harm (by cutting the bow) rather than acting from blind rage. The verse highlights controlled strength—power used with discernment.
Arjuna, despite being severely wounded by Aśvatthāman, retaliates by overwhelming him with a dense volley of arrows and then severs Aśvatthāman’s bow, effectively disarming him in the fight.