Shloka 763
कृष्णं च पार्थ च तथा ध्वजं च पार्थनुजान् सोमकान् पातयंश्र । तदनन्तर सूर्यकुमार कर्णने दस हजार उत्तम बाणोंद्वारा वायुपुत्र भीमसेनके मर्मस्थानोंपर गहरा आघात किया। साथ ही, श्रीकृष्ण, अर्जुन और उनके रथकी ध्वजाको, उनके छोटे भाइयोंको तथा सोमकोंको भी उसने मार गिरानेका प्रयत्न किया
sañjaya uvāca | kṛṣṇaṃ ca pārthaṃ ca tathā dhvajaṃ ca pārthānujān somakān pātayaṃś ca | tadanantaraṃ sūryakumāraḥ karṇo daśa-sahasrair uttamaiḥ bāṇair vāyuputraṃ bhīmasenaṃ marma-sthāneṣu gāḍham ājaghāna | sārdhaṃ ca śrīkṛṣṇaṃ arjunaṃ ca ratha-dhvajaṃ ca, tasya kanīyasaḥ bhrātṝn somakāṃś ca nipātayituṃ prayatata ||
Sañjaya said: As he rained down shafts, Karṇa sought to strike down Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, the chariot’s standard, Arjuna’s younger brothers, and the Somakas as well. Then the son of the Sun, Karṇa, with ten thousand excellent arrows, dealt a deep, targeted blow to Bhīmasena—the son of the Wind—hitting him in his vital points. At the same time, he pressed the attack with the intent to bring down Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, their chariot-flag, the younger Pāṇḍavas, and the Somakas—showing how, in the fury of war, the aim shifts from mere combat to the ruthless pursuit of decisive annihilation.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how war intensifies from individual duels to attempts at total incapacitation of leadership and morale-symbols (like the chariot standard). Ethically, it underscores the tension within kṣatriya-dharma: valor and skill are praised, yet the drive to annihilate—targeting vital points and key figures—reveals the harsh moral cost of warfare.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa launching a fierce barrage. He strikes Bhīma hard in vital spots with a vast volley of arrows and simultaneously tries to bring down Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, their chariot’s banner, Arjuna’s brothers, and the Somaka allies—aiming for a decisive collapse of the Pāṇḍava side.