Shloka 77
शरोत्तमान् सम्प्रहितान् महारथै- श्रिच्छेद पार्थ: प्रहसन् शरौचै: । भूयश्व तानहनद् बाणसड्घान् गाण्डीवधन्वायतपूर्णमण्डल:,कौरवमहारथियोंके चलाये हुए उत्तम बाणोंको कुन्तीकुमारने अपने शरसमूहोंद्वारा हँसते-हँसते काट दिया। उनका गाण्डीव धनुष खींचा जाकर पूरा मण्डलाकार बन गया था और उसके द्वारा वे उन शत्रु-सैनिकोंपर बारंबार बाणसमूहोंका प्रहार करते थे
śarottamān samprahitān mahārathaiḥ śiccheda pārthaḥ prahasan śaraughaiḥ | bhūyaś ca tān ahanad bāṇa-saṅghān gāṇḍīva-dhanvāyata-pūrṇa-maṇḍalaḥ ||
Karna said: “The finest arrows launched by the great chariot-warriors were cut down by Partha (Arjuna), smiling as he met them with torrents of his own shafts. Again and again he shattered those masses of arrows; with the Gāṇḍīva drawn to its full, circle-like arc, he repeatedly rained volleys upon the hostile Kaurava forces.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya discipline: skill joined with steadiness of mind. Arjuna’s smiling composure amid danger suggests mastery over fear and anger, using strength with controlled intent rather than panic—an ethical ideal for warriors in the epic.
During the Karṇa Parva battle, Kaurava great warriors unleash excellent arrows. Arjuna counters by cutting them down with dense arrow-streams and then repeatedly showers volleys, drawing the Gāṇḍīva to its full arc, overwhelming the opposing forces.