Shloka 853
ततः कर्ण द्वादशश्रि: सुमुक्तै- विंद्ध्वा पुन: सप्तभिरभ्यविद्धयत् | इसी समय कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनने हँसते-हँसते दस बाणोंसे शल्यको गहरी चोट पहुँचायी और उनके कवचको कछिज्न-भिन्न कर डाला। फिर अच्छी तरह छोड़े हुए बारह बाणोंसे कर्णको घायल करके पुन: उसे सात बाणोंसे बींध डाला
tataḥ karṇa dvādaśaśriḥ sumuktair viddhvā punaḥ saptabhir abhyaviddhayat |
Sañjaya said: Then Arjuna, the son of Kuntī, smiling as he fought, struck Śalya with ten arrows, dealing a deep wound and tearing his armour. Thereafter, with twelve well-released shafts he wounded Karṇa, and again pierced him with seven more.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: disciplined skill and unwavering resolve in battle, while implicitly reminding the reader of the heavy ethical cost of war—victory is pursued through duty and prowess, yet it unfolds amid tragic kin-conflict.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s rapid volleys: he first wounds Śalya and damages his armour, then turns his attack on Karṇa—striking him with a set of twelve arrows and immediately following with seven more, intensifying the duel.