Shloka 21
सदार्चितं चन्दनचूर्णशायितं सुवर्णतूणीरशयं महार्चिषम् । आकर्णपूर्ण च विकृष्य कर्ण: पार्थोन्मुख: संदधे चोत्तमौजा:
sadārcitaṃ candanacūrṇaśāyitaṃ suvarṇatūṇīraśayaṃ mahārcīṣam | ākarṇapūrṇaṃ ca vikṛṣya karṇaḥ pārthonmukhaḥ saṃdadhe cottamaujāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Karṇa, ever honored and anointed with sandal-powder, resting upon a golden quiver and blazing with splendor, drew his bow back to the ear in a full draw. Facing Pārtha (Arjuna), he then fixed his arrow—his supreme energy and resolve gathered for the decisive act.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how honor, splendor, and disciplined skill culminate in decisive action during war; ethically, it reflects the hardening of a warrior’s resolve under chosen allegiance, where personal greatness is directed toward destructive ends within the accepted code of battle.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa preparing to shoot at Arjuna: he turns toward Pārtha, draws the bowstring fully to the ear, and sets the arrow—signaling an imminent, high-stakes exchange between the foremost champions.