Shloka 28
तस्यास्त्रमस्त्रेण निहत्य सो5थ जघान संख्ये रथनागपत्तीन् | अमृष्यमाणश्न महेन्द्रकर्मा महारणे भार्गवास्त्रप्रतापात्
tasya astram astreṇa nihatya so 'tha jaghāna saṅkhye ratha-nāga-pattīn | amṛṣyamāṇaś ca mahendra-karmā mahāraṇe bhārgavāstra-pratāpāt ||
Sañjaya dit : Ayant brisé l’arme de l’adversaire par la sienne, il se mit ensuite, au cœur de la mêlée, à abattre guerriers de chars, éléphants et fantassins. Incapable de souffrir la résistance et attisé par la colère, Karṇa—soutenu par la puissance de l’arme de Bhārgava—accomplit dans ce grand combat des actes dignes d’Indra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of martial excellence: when astric power is joined with amṛṣyā (intolerance/irascibility), it accelerates slaughter. It implicitly invites reflection on restraint (dama) and responsibility in the use of extraordinary power, even when one is capable of Indra-like feats.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa countering an enemy weapon with his own (astra defeating astra) and then cutting down multiple battlefield units—chariots, elephants, and infantry—while empowered by the Bhārgavāstra, appearing Indra-like in prowess amid the great fight.