Shloka 25

धनंजय-दुर्योधन-संग्रामः

Arjuna–Duryodhana Engagement and Admonition

Devanagari script

अथापरेण बाणेन ज्वलितेन महौजसा । विव्याध कर्ण कौन्तेयस्तीक्ष्णेनोरसि वीर्यवान्‌,तत्पश्चात्‌ पराक्रमी कुन्तीकुमारने महान्‌ तेजस्वी तथा अग्निके समान प्रज्वलित दूसरे बाणद्वारा कर्णकी छातीमें आघात किया

Transliteration

athāpareṇa bāṇena jvalitena mahaujasā | vivyādha karṇaṃ kaunteyas tīkṣṇenorasi vīryavān |

Translation

Then, with another arrow—blazing and driven by great force—the valiant son of Kuntī struck Karṇa with a sharp shaft in the chest.

Word by Word

अथthen

अपरेणwith another

बाणेनwith an arrow

ज्वलितेनblazing

महौजसाby/with great might (lit. by the great-energied one/means)

विव्याधpierced

कर्णम्Karna

कौन्तेयःthe son of Kunti (Arjuna)

तीक्ष्णेनwith a sharp (arrow)

उरसिin/on the chest

वीर्यवान्mighty, valorous

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Karṇa

Kaunteya (Arjuna)

arrow (bāṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve in battle: when conflict is joined, decisive action and steadfast courage become the immediate expression of duty, with outcomes hinging on discipline, strength, and focus rather than hesitation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Kaunteya (Arjuna) releases a second, blazing arrow and pierces Karṇa in the chest, intensifying the duel through a direct and forceful strike.