Shloka 17
अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः
Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces
प्रतिरुद्धस्तत: कर्णो रोषात् प्रस्फुरिताधर: । शिखण्डिन त्रिभिर्बाणैर्भुवोर्मध्ये3भ्यताडयत्,अपनी गति अवरुद्ध हो जानेपर रोषके मारे कर्णके ओठ फड़कने लगे। उसने तीन बाणोंद्वारा शिखण्डीको उसकी दोनों भौंहोंके मध्यभागमें गहरी चोट पहुँचायी
pratiruddhas tataḥ karṇo roṣāt prasphuritādharaḥ | śikhaṇḍinaṃ tribhir bāṇair bhruvormadhye 'bhyatāḍayat ||
Sañjaya dit : Son avance ayant été arrêté, Karṇa, les lèvres frémissantes de colère, frappa Śikhaṇḍin de trois flèches, le touchant violemment entre les sourcils.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger arising from obstruction can drive a warrior toward immediate, targeted harm. It implicitly warns that in war, emotional agitation (roṣa) can dominate judgment, even when actions remain within the harsh norms of kṣatriya combat.
Karṇa’s movement/attack is checked by opposition; enraged, he retaliates by shooting three arrows at Śikhaṇḍin, striking him between the eyebrows—an image of a precise, punishing counterattack described by Sañjaya.