Shloka 37
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
दुःशासन द्वादशभि: कृपं शारद्वतं त्रिभि: । भीष्म शान्तनवं षष्ट्या राजानं च शतेन ह । कर्ण च कर्णिना कर्णे विव्याध परवीरहा,उन्होंने द्रोणाचार्यको तिहत्तर, दुःसहको दस, अश्वत्थामाको आठ, दुःशासनको बारह, शरद्वानके पुत्र कृपाचार्यको तीन, शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मको साठ तथा राजा दुर्योधनको सौ क्षुपप्र नामवाले बाणोंसे घायल किया। तत्पश्चात् शत्रुवीरोंका हनन करनेवाले अर्जुनने कर्णके कानमें एक कर्णी नामक बाण मारकर उसे बींध डाला
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
duḥśāsanaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ kṛpaṃ śāradvataṃ tribhiḥ |
bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ ṣaṣṭyā rājānaṃ ca śatena ha |
karṇaṃ ca karṇinā karṇe vivyādha paravīrahā ||
Dijo Vaiśaṃpāyana: Arjuna, matador de héroes enemigos, hirió a Duḥśāsana con doce flechas, a Kṛpa Śāradvata con tres, a Bhīṣma, hijo de Śāntanu, con sesenta, y al rey (Duryodhana) con cien. Luego atravesó a Karṇa en la oreja con una flecha llamada Karṇī, dejándolo gravemente herido.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, targeted nature of kṣatriya warfare: prowess is shown through precise action against specific opponents. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—duty and victory pursued through violence, with each act carrying moral weight even when performed within the accepted codes of battle.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s rapid volley of arrows: he wounds Duḥśāsana, Kṛpa, Bhīṣma, and Duryodhana with specified counts, then pierces Karṇa in the ear using an arrow named Karṇī, marking a dramatic moment of battlefield dominance.