Shloka 35
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
अथास्य बाहूरुशिरोललार्टं ग्रीवां वराड़्ानि परावमर्दी । शितैश्न बाणैर्युधि निर्बिभेद गाण्डीवमुक्तैरशनिप्रकाशै:
athāsya bāhūruśirolalāṭaṁ grīvāṁ varāṅgāni parāvamardī | śitaiḥ bāṇair yudhi nirbibheda gāṇḍīvamuktair aśaniprakāśaiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Puis le puissant dompteur des ennemis (Arjuna), au cœur du combat, perça les bras, les cuisses, la tête, le front, le cou et d’autres nobles membres de Karna de flèches acérées, décochées du Gāṇḍīva et éclatantes comme la foudre, brisant l’orgueil de l’adversaire.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial action: a warrior’s strength is portrayed as legitimate when used to subdue hostile aggression and arrogance in a righteous battle context, aligning prowess with duty rather than cruelty.
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), described as a crusher of enemies, strikes Karna in battle with sharp arrows shot from the Gāṇḍīva, piercing multiple vital and prominent body parts, emphasizing Arjuna’s dominance in that exchange.