Shloka 463
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
गरुडस्थेव पततो जिघृक्षो: पन्नगोत्तमम् । नरेश्वर! रथसे उछलकर दौड़ते हुए महामना अश्वत्थामाका वेग बहुत बड़े सर्पको पकड़नेके लिये झपटे हुए गरुड़के समान प्रतीत हुआ
garuḍastheva patato jighṛkṣoḥ pannagottamam | nareśvara rathastha uccalya dhāvataḥ mahāmanā aśvatthāmanaḥ vegaḥ bahuḥ sarpaṃ grahītuṃ jhaṭpataḥ garuḍa iva pratibhātaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, ketika ia meloncat ke atas keretanya dan melesat maju, Aśvatthāman yang berhati luhur tampak laksana Garuḍa menukik dari angkasa, berniat menyambar ular terbaik. Laju serbunya dan fokus pemangsa itu memantulkan daya dorong perang yang kejam—di mana keperkasaan dan tekad kerap menenggelamkan kendali diri.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention (jighṛkṣā—desire to seize) and momentum (vega—force) shape action in war: when the mind fixes on capture and victory, one can become like a predator, and ethical restraint is easily overshadowed by martial drive.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāman suddenly surging forward on his chariot with great speed. His movement is compared to Garuḍa swooping to snatch a powerful serpent, emphasizing swift, decisive aggression in the ongoing battle.