Shloka 73
ततस्तदेवेत्यभिपूज्य सत्वरं जनार्दनं कर्णमविध्यदर्जुन: । शरोत्तमै: सर्वकुरूत्तमस्त्वरं- स्तथा यथा शम्बरहा पुरा बलिम्
tatas tadeveti abhipūjya satvaraṁ janārdanaṁ karṇam avidhyad arjunaḥ | śarottamaiḥ sarvakurūttamas tvaraṁ tathā yathā śambarahā purā balim ||
Sañjaya said: Then, saying, “So be it,” and swiftly honoring Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), Arjuna—the foremost of the Kurus—at once pierced Karṇa with his finest arrows, just as in former times Śambarahā (Indra, slayer of Śambara) struck down King Bali.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action aligned with duty: Arjuna acts decisively in battle after respectfully assenting to and honoring Kṛṣṇa’s guidance. Ethical emphasis falls on resolve and right execution of one’s role (kṣatriya-dharma), rather than impulsive anger.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, after saying “So be it” and honoring Kṛṣṇa (his charioteer), rapidly strikes Karṇa with excellent arrows. The intensity is compared to Indra’s ancient attack on King Bali, underscoring the force and inevitability of the assault.