Shloka 30
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 109 — Karṇa–Bhīma Yuddha and Durmukha’s Fall (कर्णभीमयुद्धम्; दुर्मुखवधः)
नकुलस्ते सुतं राजन् विकर्ण पृथुलोचनम् । मुहूर्ताज्जितवॉल्लोके तदद्भुतमिवा भवत्,राजन! नकुलने विशाल नेत्रोंवाले आपके पुत्र विकर्णको दो ही घड़ीमें पराजित कर दिया; यह अद्भुत-सी बात हुई
nakulas te sutaṃ rājan vikarṇaṃ pṛthulocanam | muhūrtāj jitavāl loke tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Sañjaya said: O King, Nakula overcame your son Vikarṇa, the wide-eyed warrior, within a mere moment. To all who witnessed it, the event seemed almost wondrous—so swiftly was the prince brought under control amid the press of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly fortune can turn in war: reputation and strength are tested in an instant, and public judgment (‘in the world’) follows visible outcomes. It implicitly cautions against overconfidence and reminds that prowess and circumstance together shape results.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Nakula rapidly defeats Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son Vikarṇa. The speed of the victory is presented as astonishing to onlookers amid the ongoing battle.