Shloka 21
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
तमापततन्तं परिघं जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम् । चिच्छेद सहसा राजन् प्रहसन्निव पाण्डव:,राजन! उस सुवर्णभूषित परिघको सहसा अपने ऊपर आते देख पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने हँसते हुए-से उसके टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर दिये
tam āpatatantaṃ parighaṃ jāmbūnadapariṣkṛtam | ciccheda sahasā rājan prahasann iva pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, as that mace—adorned with Jāmbūnada gold—came hurtling down upon him, the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), as though smiling, swiftly cut it into pieces.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined fearlessness and mastery under pressure: a warrior grounded in duty (kṣatriya-dharma) meets danger with steadiness rather than panic, converting threat into controlled action.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a gold-adorned mace comes rushing toward Arjuna; Arjuna, seemingly smiling, swiftly cuts the weapon into pieces, displaying superior skill and composure in the battle.