Shloka 12
ततः कर्ण: प्रथम तत्र पार्थ महेषुभिवर्दशभि: प्रत्यविध्यत् । तं॑ चार्जुन: प्रत्यविद्धयच्छिताग्रै: कक्षान्तरे दशभि: सम्प्रहस्य
tataḥ karṇaḥ prathamaṃ tatra pārthaṃ maheṣubhir daśabhiḥ pratyavidhyat | taṃ cārjunaḥ pratyavidhyac chitagraiḥ kakṣāntare daśabhiḥ samprahasya ||
Sañjaya dit : Alors Karṇa, frappant le premier dans cette rencontre, transperça Pārtha (Arjuna) de dix flèches puissantes. Arjuna, riant en retour, le transperça à son tour de dix traits à la pointe acérée, les enfonçant vers l’aisselle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfastness and disciplined prowess: even amid lethal conflict, the warriors maintain composure and respond with measured skill, reflecting duty-bound courage rather than panic.
In the Karṇa–Arjuna duel as reported by Sañjaya, Karṇa strikes first, hitting Arjuna with ten powerful arrows; Arjuna immediately retaliates, smiling, and pierces Karṇa with ten sharp arrows aimed at the armpit-region.