Shloka 20
कर्णभीमयुद्धम्
Karna–Bhīma Combat Report
भूय एव तु विंशत्या सायकानां समाचिनोत् | साश्व॒सूतध्वजं द्रोण: पश्यतां सर्वधन्विनाम्,फिर द्रोणने सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंके देखते-देखते घोड़े, सारथि और ध्वजसहित युधिष्ठिरको बीस बाण मारे
bhūya eva tu viṁśatyā sāyakānāṁ samācinot | sāśvasūtadhvajaṁ droṇaḥ paśyatāṁ sarvadhanvinām ||
Sañjaya said: Then again Droṇa, before the eyes of all the bowmen, struck (the king) with twenty arrows, so that his horses, charioteer, and banner were all hit as well. The scene underscores the ruthless precision of battlefield skill—where prowess is displayed publicly, and the ethical tension of war appears in the targeting of the chariot’s supports along with the warrior.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war magnifies both excellence and moral strain: Droṇa’s mastery is displayed publicly, yet the act of striking not only the warrior but also the chariot’s supports (horses, charioteer, banner) points to the harsh, destabilizing tactics that battle can normalize—raising questions about proportionality and the limits of kṣatriya conduct.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa again releases a volley of twenty arrows, and the attack is so comprehensive that it affects the opponent’s chariot ensemble—horses, charioteer, and banner—while all the assembled archers witness the feat.