Shloka 21
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
तमापतन्तं सहसा किरीटी वैकर्तनं वै तरसाभिपत्य । प्रगृह्य वेग न््यपतज्जवेन नागं गरुत्मानिव चित्रपक्ष:
tam āpatantaṃ sahasā kirīṭī vaikartanaṃ vai tarasābhipatya | pragṛhya vegaṃ nyapatajjavena nāgaṃ garutmān iva citrapakṣaḥ ||
Melihat Karṇa menerjang tiba-tiba, Arjuna yang bermahkota pun melesat maju dengan dahsyat; memanfaatkan momentum, ia menghantamnya dengan cepat—laksana Garuḍa bersayap beraneka warna menyambar seekor ular.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when confronted by sudden aggression, a warrior must respond decisively and with disciplined strength. Courage here is not reckless rage but controlled readiness to protect honor and duty.
Karṇa charges suddenly; Arjuna, identified as Kirīṭī, surges forward and attacks with great speed. The poet compares Arjuna’s swift assault to Garuḍa swooping down upon a serpent.