Shloka 173
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
वक्षोदेशे भृशं पार्थ ताडयामास निर्दयम् | महाराज! तदनन्तर द्रोणकुमारने धनुष खींचकर छोड़े हुए पंखयुक्त बाणसे कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनकी छातीपर पुनः बड़े जोरसे निर्दयतापूर्वक प्रहार किया
sañjaya uvāca |
vakṣodeśe bhṛśaṃ pārtha tāḍayāmāsa nirdayam |
હે પાર્થ! તેણે તારા વક્ષસ્થળ પર અત્યંત જોરથી નિર્દયતાપૂર્વક પ્રહાર કર્યો।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the merciless intensity of battlefield action, implicitly contrasting martial prowess with compassion; it highlights how war can eclipse humane restraint, raising ethical reflection even within kṣatriya duty.
Sanjaya reports that Arjuna (addressed as Partha) is struck hard on the chest, described as a forceful and merciless blow amid the ongoing combat.