Shloka 81
स गाण्डिवव्यायतपूर्णमण्डल- स्तपन् रिपूनर्जुनभास्करो बभौ । शरोग्ररश्मि: शुचिशुक्रमध्यगो यथैव सूर्य: परिवेषवांस्तथा,खींचे हुए गाण्डीव धनुषरूपी पूर्ण मण्डलसे युक्त अर्जुनरूपी सूर्य अपनी बाणरूपी प्रचण्ड किरणोंसे प्रकाशित हो शत्रुओंको संताप देते हुए ज्येष्ठ और आषाढ़के मध्यवर्ती उस सूर्यके समान सुशोभित हो रहे थे, जिसपर घेरा पड़ा हुआ हो
sa gāṇḍīvavyāyata-pūrṇamaṇḍalaḥ tapan ripūn arjuna-bhāskaro babhau | śarogra-raśmiḥ śuci-śukra-madhyago yathaiva sūryaḥ pariveṣavāṃs tathā ||
Karna dijo: «Arjuna —como el sol— resplandecía; su Gāṇḍīva tensado formaba un círculo perfecto. Con rayos feroces en forma de puntas de flecha abrasaba a los enemigos, apareciendo como el sol en la luminosa mitad de la estación entre Jyeṣṭha y Āṣāḍha, ceñido por un halo.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power, when directed in war, becomes both illuminating and scorching: Arjuna’s brilliance inspires awe yet brings suffering to foes. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal—skill and intensity employed in battle as duty—while reminding that radiance (tejas) can be protective for one side and destructive for another.
Karna is describing Arjuna on the battlefield. With Gāṇḍīva fully drawn, Arjuna appears like a halo-circled sun; his arrows are compared to fierce rays that burn and torment the enemy ranks.