Shloka 673
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
ह्ृता: सर्वा: शरौघैस्तै: कर्णपाण्डवयोस्तदा । नरेश्वरर कर्ण और भीमसेनके बाणसमूहोंसे मध्याह्नकालमें तपते हुए सूर्यकी सारी प्रचण्ड किरणें भी फीकी पड़ गयी थीं
hṛtāḥ sarvāḥ śaraughais taiḥ karṇa-pāṇḍavayos tadā | nareśvara karṇa aura bhīmasenake bāṇa-samūhoṃse madhyāhna-kālameṃ tapate hue sūryakī sārī pracaṇḍa kiraṇeṃ bhī phīkī paṛa gayī thīṃ |
Sañjaya berkata: Pada saat itu, dalam hujan anak panah antara Karṇa dan sang Pāṇḍava (Bhīmasena), bahkan sinar matahari tengah hari yang menyala-nyala seakan kehilangan cahayanya—ditindih badai senjata. Kisah ini menegaskan bahwa tekad dan kepiawaian perang, bila digerakkan amarah dan perseteruan, dapat membuat dunia tampak redup, seolah alam pun gentar menyaksikan kekerasan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses cosmic hyperbole—arrows outshining the midday sun—to highlight the terrifying magnitude of war. Ethically, it suggests that when rivalry and wrath dominate, even the natural order seems eclipsed; martial excellence without restraint can darken the world rather than uphold dharma.
Sañjaya describes an intense phase of combat in the Karṇa Parva: Karṇa and the Pāṇḍava champion Bhīmasena unleash such dense volleys of arrows that the sun’s fierce midday rays appear to fade, as if overwhelmed by the missile-storm.