Shloka 48
अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्
Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
विव्याध च चतु:षष्ट्या शराणां नतपर्वणाम्,साथ ही उसे झुकी हुई गाँठवाले चौंसठ बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया। पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनको सिंधुराजके सम्मुख जाते देख हमारे पक्षके वीर योद्धा उसके जीवनसे निराश होकर युद्धसे निवृत्त हो गये
vivyādha ca catuḥṣaṣṭyā śarāṇāṁ nataparvaṇām |
Sañjaya berkata: Ia menembusnya dengan enam puluh empat anak panah yang bersendi melengkung, hingga ia terluka parah dan tercabik. Melihat Arjuna, putra Pāṇḍu, maju menghadapi raja Sindhu, para pahlawan di pihak kami—putus asa akan keselamatan hidup Arjuna—mundur dari pertempuran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how resolve and righteous purpose in battle can break the enemy’s morale: when Arjuna advances with unwavering intent, opponents lose hope and withdraw, showing the ethical weight of determination in fulfilling kṣatriya-duty.
Sañjaya reports a warrior being struck with sixty-four specially described arrows, then notes that as Arjuna moves to face Jayadratha (the Sindhu king), Kaurava fighters—seeing Arjuna’s advance—become despondent about stopping him and pull back from combat.