Shloka 34
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
कर्णकी बाणवर्षासे आहत हुए महात्मा अर्जुनने अतिमानुष पराक्रम प्रकट किया। जैसे सूर्य अपनी किरणोंके समूहसे समस्त संसारको आच्छादित कर देते हैं, उसी प्रकार उन्होंने बाणसमुदायसे कर्णके रथको ढक दिया ।। स हस्तिनेवाभिहतो गजेन्द्र: प्रगृह्ा भललान् निशितान् निषज्भात् । आकर्णपूर्ण च धर्नुर्विकृष्य विव्याध गात्रेष्वथ सूतपुत्रम्,उस समय अर्जुनकी दशा उस गजराजकी भाँति हो रही थी, जो अपने प्रतिद्वन्द्दी गजका प्रहार सहकर स्वयं भी उसपर चोट करनेके लिये उद्यत हो। उन्होंने तरकससे भल्ल नामक तीखे बाण निकाले और धनुषको कानतक खींचकर सूतपुत्रके अंगोंको बींध डाला
sa hastinevābhihato gajendraḥ pragṛhya bhallān niśitān niṣaṅgāt | ākārṇapūrṇaṃ ca dhanuḥ vikṛṣya vivyādha gātreṣv atha sūtaputram ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Arjuna—like a lordly elephant that, though struck by a rival, gathers itself to strike back—drew razor-sharp bhalla arrows from his quiver. Drawing his bow to the ear in a full pull, he pierced the charioteer’s son, Karṇa, in his limbs.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ideal of steadiness under attack: one bears the opponent’s blow without losing composure, then responds with disciplined, skillful action. The elephant simile emphasizes resilience and controlled strength rather than panic or cruelty.
In the battle episode, Arjuna, having been struck, draws sharp bhalla arrows from his quiver, pulls his bow to a full ear-draw, and wounds Karna (called Sūtaputra) in the limbs—showing superior archery and momentum in the duel.