Shloka 40
अथ त्वरन् कर्णवधाय पार्थोी महेन्द्रवज्ञानलदण्डसंनि भम् । आदत्त चाथाञ्जलिकं निषज्ञात् सहस्ररश्मेरिव रश्मिमुत्तमम्,तदनन्तर कर्णके वधके लिये शीघ्रता करते हुए अर्जुनने अपने तरकससे एक अंजलिक नामक बाण निकाला, जो इन्द्रके वज्र और अग्निके दण्डके समान भयंकर तथा सूर्यकी एक उत्तम किरणके समान कान्तिमान् था
atha tvaran karṇavadhāya pārtho mahendravajrānaladaṇḍasaṃnibham | ādatta cāthāñjalikaṃ niṣaṅgāt sahasraraśmer iva raśmim uttamam ||
Sañjaya said: Then, hastening to bring about Karna’s death, Partha (Arjuna) drew from his quiver the arrow named Añjalika—terrible like Indra’s thunderbolt and like a staff of fire, and radiant like a supreme ray of the thousand-rayed Sun.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights decisive action aligned with one’s role (kṣatriya-dharma): when a grave threat endangers the larger cause, hesitation must yield to resolute, disciplined effort—yet the narrative also invites reflection on the moral weight of lethal duty in war.
Sanjaya describes Arjuna, intent on killing Karna, swiftly drawing the famed arrow Añjalika from his quiver. Its power and brilliance are emphasized through comparisons to Indra’s thunderbolt, a staff of fire, and a radiant ray of the Sun.