Shloka 25
ते कर्णमासाद्य महाप्रभावा: सुतेजना गार्ध्रपत्रा: सुवेगा: । गात्रेषु सर्वेषु हयेषु चापि शरासने युगचक्रे ध्वजे च,वे महाप्रभावशाली गीधके पंखोंसे युक्त, तेज धारवाले और अतिशय वेगवान् अस्त्र कर्णके पास पहुँचकर उसके समस्त अंगोंमें, घोड़ोंपर, धनुषमें तथा रथके जूओं, पहियों और ध्वजोंमें जा लगे
te karṇam āsādya mahāprabhāvāḥ sutejanā gārdhrapatrāḥ suvegāḥ | gātreṣu sarveṣu hayeṣu cāpi śarāsane yugacakre dhvaje ca ||
Sañjaya said: Those arrows—mighty in effect, keen-edged, fletched with vulture-feathers, and exceedingly swift—reached Karṇa and struck him everywhere: in his limbs, in his horses as well, and in his bow; they also lodged in the yoke, the wheels, and the banner of his chariot.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, force and skill can dismantle not only a warrior’s body but also the supports of his power—horses, bow, and chariot. Ethically, it points to the fragility of martial agency and the grave, cascading consequences of choosing the battlefield as the arena for resolving conflict.
Sañjaya describes a volley of exceptionally swift, sharp arrows reaching Karṇa and embedding in his limbs and equipment. The attack also strikes his horses and damages key chariot components—yoke, wheels, and banner—depicting Karṇa being heavily pressured and his mobility and combat capacity being threatened.