Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
तयोरासीन्महाराज संग्रामो लोमहर्षण: । धृष्टय्युम्नस्तु राधेयं शरेणानतपर्वणा
tayor āsīn mahārāja saṅgrāmo lomaharṣaṇaḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumnas tu rādheyaṃ śareṇānataparvaṇā ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô Roi, entre ces deux-là s’éleva un combat qui faisait se hérisser les cheveux. Alors Dhṛṣṭadyumna frappa Rādheya (Karṇa) d’une flèche aux jointures intactes, redoublant l’effroyable choc des champions.
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethic of kṣatriya confrontation: when rival champions meet, the conflict becomes intense and consequential, and each act (like a well-aimed arrow) carries moral and strategic weight within the larger dharmic crisis of the war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a terrifying duel has erupted between Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Karna, and that Dhṛṣṭadyumna strikes Karna with a powerful, firm arrow, marking a sharp moment in their direct engagement.