Shloka 9
Arjuna’s Approach, Drona’s Recognition, and the Turning of the Cattle (अर्जुनागमनम्, द्रोणवाक्यम्, गोगमनिवृत्तिः)
इतश्वेतश्न निर्मुक्ता: काउचनैर्गार्ध्रवाजितै: । दृश्यतामद्य वै व्योम खद्योतैरिव संवृतम्,इधर-उधर दोनों ओरसे छूटे हुए गीधकी पाँखोंसे युक्त सुवर्णमय बाणोंद्वारा आच्छादित हो आज आकाश जुगुनुओंसे भरा हुआ-सा दिखायी देगा
itaś śvetāś ca nirmuktāḥ kāñcanair gārḍhravājitaiḥ | dṛśyatām adya vai vyoma khadyotair iva saṃvṛtam ||
Karna said: “From here, let those bright, golden arrows—fletched with vulture-feathers—be released. Today the sky will be seen as though covered over with fireflies.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of demonstrating strength and fearlessness in battle; ethically, it also shows how pride in martial skill can escalate destruction, inviting reflection on restraint and responsibility in the use of power.
Karna is urging the discharge of shining, gold-adorned arrows with vulture-feather fletching, claiming the sky will look as if it is filled with fireflies—an image for a dense volley of missiles.