Shloka 12
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
तथैव राजन् कर्णो5पि पार्षतं शत्रुतापनम्
sañjaya uvāca | tathaiva rājan karṇo 'pi pārṣataṁ śatrutāpanam viṣadhara-sarpavat viṣaileṣubhir bāṇair āchādayām āsa | punaś ca droṇaśatruḥ mahādhanurdharaḥ dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi karṇaṁ tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ kṣatam akarot |
राजन्! इसी प्रकार कर्ण ने भी रणभूमि में शत्रुओं को संताप देने वाले पार्षत धृष्टद्युम्न को विषधर सर्प के समान विषैले बाणों से ढँक दिया। फिर द्रोण-वधकर्ता, महाधनुर्धर धृष्टद्युम्न ने भी तीक्ष्ण बाणों से कर्ण को आघात कर उसे घायल कर दिया।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless reciprocity of violence in war: even the greatest warriors alternately overpower and are overpowered. It implicitly underscores the Mahabharata’s ethical tension—kshatriya valor and duty operate within a tragic cycle where skill and fury do not guarantee moral clarity or lasting victory.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Karna showers Dhrishtadyumna with venom-like arrows, overwhelming him. Immediately afterward, Dhrishtadyumna—renowned as Drona’s slayer—counterattacks and wounds Karna with sharp arrows, showing the back-and-forth intensity of the duel.