Shloka 12
दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat
महता शरवर्षेण राधेय: प्रत्यवारयत् । सम्पूर्ण अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंके पारंगत विद्वान् राधापुत्र कर्णने बड़ी भारी बाण-वर्षा करके उन समस्त धनुर्धरोंको आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया ।। ११ $ ।। दुर्योधनं च विंशत्या शीघ्रमस्त्रमुदीरयन्
sañjaya uvāca | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa rādhēyaḥ pratyavārayat | duryodhanaṃ ca viṃśatyā śīghram astram udīrayan |
Sañjaya dijo: Con una poderosa lluvia de flechas, Rādheya (Karna) contuvo a los arqueros enemigos e impidió que avanzaran. Luego, soltando con presteza sus proyectiles, hirió también a Duryodhana con veinte flechas—episodio que revela el caos y la turbiedad moral del combate, donde aun los aliados pueden verse en peligro en medio de una incesante exhibición marcial.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war magnifies both skill and moral peril: extraordinary martial power can restrain enemies, yet the same relentless force—amid confusion—may harm even one’s own side, reminding readers that violence is inherently unstable and ethically hazardous.
Sanjaya reports that Karna unleashes a massive volley of arrows to halt the advance of opposing archers. In the same sequence he rapidly discharges weapons and hits Duryodhana with twenty arrows, indicating the intensity and disorder of the fighting at this moment.