Shloka 56
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
तान् सूतपुत्रो विशिखैर्दशभिर्दशभि: शरै: | रथेनानुचरन् वीर: प्रत्यविध्यदरिंदम:,रथसे विचरनेवाले शत्रुदमन वीर सूतपुत्र कर्णने भी उन सबको दस-दस बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
tān sūtaputro viśikhair daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ | rathenānucaran vīraḥ pratyavidhyad arindamaḥ ||
संजय बोले—रथ से विचरने वाला शत्रुदमन वीर सूतपुत्र कर्ण भी उन सबको प्रत्युत्तर में दस-दस तीक्ष्ण बाणों से घायल कर गया।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-code context of the epic: in battle, response is immediate and proportionate, showcasing discipline and skill. Ethically, it also points to the grim reciprocity of war—valor functions within a cycle that multiplies harm even when each act is ‘duty-bound’.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, maneuvering his chariot, counterattacks and wounds the opposing warriors, striking each of them with ten arrows.