Shloka 656
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
नानावर्णहता बाणै: पञ्चालैरपलायिभि: | 'युद्धसे पीठ न दिखानेवाले पांचाल-वीरोंके विभिन्न रंगोंवाले बाणोंसे मारे जाकर ये प्राणशून्य रथी रथोंसे नीचे गिर रहे हैं
sañjaya uvāca |
nānāvarṇahatā bāṇaiḥ pañcālair apalāyibhiḥ |
Sañjaya dit : Frappés par les flèches aux mille couleurs des Pāñcālas—guerriers qui ne tournent pas le dos au combat—ces combattants de char, privés de vie, tombent de leurs chars.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising reality of war: even steadfast, non-retreating warriors meet death. It implicitly frames courage (not fleeing) as a kṣatriya virtue, while also reminding that valor operates within the tragic moral cost of violence.
Sañjaya reports that Pāñcāla fighters, who stand firm in battle, are shooting many-colored arrows that kill chariot-warriors; the lifeless rathīs then tumble down from their chariots.