Shloka 18
तेषां धनूंषि ध्वजवाजिसूतां- स्तूर्ण पताकाश्न निकृत्य बाणै: । तान् पज्चभि स्त्वभ्यहनत् पृषत्कैः कर्णस्ततः सिंह इवोन्ननाद
teṣāṃ dhanūṃṣi dhvaja-vāji-sūtāṃs tūrṇaṃ patākāś ca nikṛtya bāṇaiḥ | tān pañcabhiḥ stv abhyahanat pṛṣatkaiḥ karṇas tataḥ siṃha ivonnanāda ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan anak panahnya, Karṇa seketika menebas busur mereka, panji-panji, kuda-kuda, kusir-kusir kereta, dan umbul-umbulnya. Lalu, dengan lima batang panah tajam, ia menghantam kelima prajurit itu juga hingga terluka. Sesudah itu Karṇa mengaum bagaikan singa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic where skill, speed, and psychological dominance (the lion-like roar) function as instruments of kṣatriya-duty. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of disciplined martial conduct with the harsh reality that war rewards decisive disabling of an opponent’s means—bows, standards, horses, and charioteers—before striking the fighters themselves.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa rapidly disables the opposing side by cutting their bows and key chariot components (banner, horses, charioteer, flags). He then wounds the five warriors with five arrows and roars like a lion, signaling dominance and rallying his side while intimidating the enemy.