Shloka 66

दुर्योधन-कर्ण-संवादः

Duryodhana–Karna Dialogue on Vyūha-bheda and Daiva

Devanagari script

आकर्णपूर्णमाचार्यो बलवानभ्यवासृजत्‌ । स हत्वा क्षत्रधर्माणं जगाम धरणीतलम्‌

Transliteration

ākarṇapūrṇam ācāryo balavān abhyavāsṛjat | sa hatvā kṣatradharmāṇaṃ jagāma dharaṇītalam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The mighty Ācārya drew his bow to the ear and released the arrow with full force. Striking down the warrior who was upholding the kṣatriya code, he fell and went down upon the earth—an image of how, in war, even those acting within their duty can be brought low by superior skill and fate.

Word by Word

आकर्णपूर्णम्filled up to the ear (i.e., fully drawn)

आचार्यःthe teacher (Drona)

बलवान्mighty, powerful

अभ्यवासृजत्shot forth, discharged

सःhe

हत्वाhaving slain

क्षत्रधर्माणम्the Kshatriya-duty (one devoted to the warrior code)

जगामwent, fell

धरणीतलम्the surface of the earth, ground

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Ācārya (Droṇa)

bow (implied by ākarṇapūrṇam)

arrow (implied by abhyavāsṛjat)

earth/ground (dharaṇītalam)

kṣatriya-dharma (as a principle/person-description)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the tension between dharma and the brutal outcomes of war: even a warrior faithfully embodying kṣatriya-dharma can be felled. It underscores that righteous intent does not guarantee survival; skill, circumstance, and the larger momentum of conflict shape results.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Droṇa, drawing his bow fully, releases a powerful shot. The targeted warrior—described as one aligned with kṣatriya duty—is struck down and collapses to the earth.