Shloka 17
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
कर्णस्तेषामापततामेकैकेन शरेण ह । धनूंषि च शरब्रातान् पातयामास भूतले
karṇas teṣām āpatatām ekaikena śareṇa ha | dhanūṃṣi ca śarabrātān pātayāmāsa bhūtale ||
Nārada dit : Lorsqu’ils se ruèrent à l’assaut, Karṇa frappa chacun d’eux d’une seule flèche, faisant tomber à terre leurs arcs et leurs faisceaux de traits. La scène met en relief l’austère éthique du combat des kṣatriya : une maîtrise tranchante, utilisée pour désarmer et dominer l’ennemi dans l’ardeur du champ de bataille.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of mastery and decisiveness in battle: superior skill can neutralize opponents swiftly, often by disarming them, demonstrating controlled power rather than mere slaughter.
As multiple foes rush forward, Karṇa shoots each attacker with a single arrow, knocking down their bows and arrow-sheaves onto the ground, effectively disabling their ability to fight.