Shloka 35
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
अथास्य बाहूरुशिरोललार्टं ग्रीवां वराड़्ानि परावमर्दी । शितैश्न बाणैर्युधि निर्बिभेद गाण्डीवमुक्तैरशनिप्रकाशै:
athāsya bāhūruśirolalāṭaṁ grīvāṁ varāṅgāni parāvamardī | śitaiḥ bāṇair yudhi nirbibheda gāṇḍīvamuktair aśaniprakāśaiḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Luego el poderoso domador de enemigos (Arjuna), en plena batalla, perforó los brazos, los muslos, la cabeza, la frente, el cuello y otros nobles miembros de Karna con flechas agudas, disparadas desde el Gāṇḍīva y fulgurantes como rayos, quebrantando así el orgullo del adversario.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial action: a warrior’s strength is portrayed as legitimate when used to subdue hostile aggression and arrogance in a righteous battle context, aligning prowess with duty rather than cruelty.
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), described as a crusher of enemies, strikes Karna in battle with sharp arrows shot from the Gāṇḍīva, piercing multiple vital and prominent body parts, emphasizing Arjuna’s dominance in that exchange.