Shloka 12
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
स तेन राज्ञातिरथेन विद्धो विगाहमानो ध्वजिनीं कुरूणाम् | शत्रुंतपं पञ्यभिराशु विद्धा ततो<स्य सूतं दशभिर्जघान,कौरवसेनामें विचरनेवाले अर्जुनने अतिरथी राजा शत्रुंतपके बाणोंसे घायल होकर उसे भी तुरंत ही पाँच बाणोंसे बींध डाला। फिर उसके सारथिको दस बाण मारकर यमलोक पहुँचा दिया
sa tena rājñātirathena viddho vigāhamāno dhvajinīṃ kurūṇām | śatruntapaṃ pañcabhir āśu viddhā tato 'sya sūtaṃ daśabhir jaghāna |
Vaiśampāyana said: As Arjuna moved through the Kuru host, he was struck by the king—an atiratha. Though wounded, he swiftly pierced Śatruntapa with five arrows; then he struck down that warrior’s charioteer with ten arrows, sending him to the realm of Yama.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark battlefield form: even when wounded, a warrior must maintain composure and respond decisively to an aggressor. It also reflects the epic’s emphasis on steadfastness (dhairya) and effectiveness (kauśala) under pressure.
Arjuna, moving through the Kaurava ranks, is hit by a king described as an atiratha. Arjuna immediately counters by piercing Śatruntapa with five arrows and then kills the opponent’s charioteer with ten arrows, intensifying the rout within the enemy host.