Shloka 1186
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
धनंजयभयात् कर्णमुज्जिहीर्षन् महारथ: । उस समय अर्जुनके भयसे कर्णका उद्धार करनेकी इच्छा रखकर महारथी अभश्वत्थामाने अपने बाणसे उस नाराचको आकाशमें ही काट दिया
dhanañjayabhayāt karṇam ujjihīrṣan mahārathaḥ | tadā arjunabhayāt karṇoddhāraṇecchayā mahāratho ’śvatthāmā svabāṇena taṃ nārācaṃ ākāśe eva chittvā nyapātayat |
Sañjaya said: Fearing Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), and wishing to rescue Karṇa, the great chariot-warrior Aśvatthāmā—moved by anxiety at Arjuna’s prowess—cut that nārāca arrow in mid-air with his own shaft, preventing it from reaching its mark. The moment underscores how, amid the chaos of battle, loyalty to an ally and the urgent duty to protect one’s side can drive swift, decisive action.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, actions are often driven by immediate dharma as understood by the warrior—protecting one’s ally and preventing imminent harm. The verse highlights how loyalty and the duty to safeguard comrades can compel rapid, skillful intervention, while also revealing the moral pressure created by a formidable opponent’s presence.
Aśvatthāmā, alarmed by Arjuna’s threat and intent on saving Karṇa, shoots to intercept and cuts a nārāca missile in mid-air. This is a defensive act meant to neutralize a dangerous projectile before it can strike.