Shloka 28
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
तस्य तानीषुवर्षाणि मत्तद्विरदगामिन: । सूतपुत्रो5स्त्रमायाभिर ग्रसत् परमास्त्रवित्,उत्तम अस्त्रोंका ज्ञान रखनेवाले सूतपुत्र कर्णने अपने अस्त्रोंकी मायासे मतवाले हाथीके समान मस्तीसे चलनेवाले भीमसेनकी उस बाण-वर्षाको ग्रस लिया
tasya tān iṣuvarṣāṇi mattadviradagāminaḥ | sūtaputro 'stramāyābhir grasat paramāstravit ||
Karna, putra sais kereta dan mahir dalam senjata tertinggi, dengan tipu-daya astrapun seakan ‘menelan’ hujan panah itu. Ia menetralkan rentetan yang dilepaskan Bhimasena, yang maju menerjang laksana gajah sedang musth.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts raw, forceful advance (Bhima likened to a rutting elephant) with disciplined expertise (Karna as paramāstravit). In dharmic warfare, victory depends not merely on aggression but on trained restraint, strategic counteraction, and mastery of weapons.
Bhimasena releases a heavy barrage of arrows while charging forward. Karna responds by deploying counter-weapons and tactical ‘māyā’ so effectively that the incoming arrow-rain is rendered ineffective—described metaphorically as being ‘swallowed’ by him.