Mahabharata 7.133.28 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 133, Shloka 28
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
तस्य तानीषुवर्षाणि मत्तद्विरदगामिन: । सूतपुत्रो5स्त्रमायाभिर ग्रसत् परमास्त्रवित्
tasya tān iṣuvarṣāṇi mattadviradagāminaḥ | sūtaputro 'stramāyābhir grasat paramāstravit ||
Karna, el hijo del auriga y conocedor de las armas supremas, mediante las artes ilusorias de sus astra, como que “se tragó” aquella lluvia de flechas. Neutralizó las descargas lanzadas por Bhimasena, que avanzaba con el ímpetu ciego de un elefante en celo guerrero.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts raw, forceful advance (Bhima likened to a rutting elephant) with disciplined expertise (Karna as paramāstravit). In dharmic warfare, victory depends not merely on aggression but on trained restraint, strategic counteraction, and mastery of weapons.
Bhimasena releases a heavy barrage of arrows while charging forward. Karna responds by deploying counter-weapons and tactical ‘māyā’ so effectively that the incoming arrow-rain is rendered ineffective—described metaphorically as being ‘swallowed’ by him.
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