Shloka 313
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
शरै: पूर्णायतोत्सूष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजष्नतु: । जैसे दो विशाल गजराज अपने दाँतोंके अग्रभागोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेसे भिड़ गये हों, उसी प्रकार कर्ण और भीमसेन धनुषको पूर्णतः खींचकर छोड़े गये बाणोंद्वारा एक-दूसरेको चोट पहुँचाते थे
śaraiḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭair anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ |
Sañjaya said: With arrows released after drawing their bows to the full, Karṇa and Bhīmasena struck one another again and again—like two mighty lordly elephants crashing together with the tips of their tusks. The scene underscores the grim reciprocity of battle, where prowess and resolve meet in mutual injury rather than moral resolution.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh symmetry of warfare: when two equally determined warriors meet, skill and strength often yield mutual harm rather than clear moral victory. It implicitly invites reflection on the cost of kṣatriya conflict—valor expressed through disciplined technique, yet producing suffering on both sides.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa and Bhīmasena exchanging powerful volleys of arrows. Both draw their bows to the full and release, striking each other repeatedly, compared to two great elephants colliding tusk-to-tusk.