Shloka 19
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
गाण्डीवधन्वा प्रसभं शरवर्षैरुदारधी: । संछाद्य समरे द्रौणिं चिच्छेदास्प च कार्मुकम्
sañjaya uvāca |
gāṇḍīvadhanvā prasabhaṃ śaravarṣair udāradhīḥ |
saṃchādya samare drauṇiṃ cicchedāspa ca kārmukam |
Sañjaya dijo: En el campo de batalla, el magnánimo Arjuna, blandiendo el Gāṇḍīva, cubrió con ímpetu al hijo de Droṇa, Aśvatthāmā, con una tormenta de flechas, y también cercenó su arco.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the violence of war, action can be guided by tactical dharma: neutralizing an enemy’s capacity to harm (by cutting the bow) rather than acting from blind rage. The verse highlights controlled strength—power used with discernment.
Arjuna, despite being severely wounded by Aśvatthāman, retaliates by overwhelming him with a dense volley of arrows and then severs Aśvatthāman’s bow, effectively disarming him in the fight.