Shloka 12
Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas
Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वीरो बलवीर्यसमन्वित: । अर्जुन प्रति संरब्ध: कृप: परमदुर्जय: । अमृष्यमाणस्तं शब्द कृप: शारद्वतस्तदा
etasminn antare vīro balavīryasamanvitaḥ | arjunaṃ prati saṃrabdhaḥ kṛpaḥ paramadurjayaḥ || amṛṣyamāṇas taṃ śabdaṃ kṛpaḥ śāradvatas tadā |
At that moment, the hero Kṛpa—endowed with strength and valor, and exceedingly difficult to overcome—became inflamed with anger toward Arjuna. Unable to endure that sound (of Arjuna’s conch), Śāradvata Kṛpa’s indignation rose, and, seized by the desire to answer him in battle, he prepared to respond with martial resolve.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial pride and provocation can ignite anger even in disciplined elders; it frames the ethical tension of kṣatriya life, where honor and duty can quickly turn into hostility when challenged.
After Arjuna’s conch is sounded, Kṛpa (Śāradvata) cannot bear the challenge implied by the blast; he becomes enraged toward Arjuna and readies himself to respond as a warrior, signaling an escalation toward combat.