Shloka 30
Somadatta’s Kṣātra-Dharma Accusation; Night Combat, Māyā, and the Fall of Ghaṭotkaca
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 131
किंचिद् विचलित: कर्ण: सुप्रहाराभिपीडित: । आकर्णपूर्णमाकृष्य भीम॑ विव्याध सायकै:,उस गहरे प्रहारसे पीड़ित हो कर्ण कुछ विचलित हो उठा। फिर धनुषको कानतक खींचकर उसने अनेक बाणोंद्वारा भीमसेनको बींध डाला
kiñcid vicalitaḥ karṇaḥ supraharābhipīḍitaḥ | ākarṇapūrṇam ākṛṣya bhīmaṁ vivyādha sāyakaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Struck hard and pressed by Bhīma’s powerful blows, Karṇa wavered for a moment. Then, drawing his bow back to the ear in full measure, he pierced Bhīma with a volley of arrows—recovering his composure and answering force with force amid the ruthless demands of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadiness under pressure: even when momentarily shaken by a fierce assault, a warrior regains composure and responds with disciplined skill. Ethically, it reflects the battlefield code where courage and resilience are tested amid reciprocal violence.
In the Drona Parva battle sequence, Bhīma’s heavy strikes momentarily unsettle Karṇa. Karṇa then draws his bow to a full ‘to-the-ear’ draw and wounds Bhīma with many arrows, turning the exchange back in his favor.