Shloka 30
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
स्वर्णपुड्खा: सुनिशिता: कर्णचापच्युता: शरा:
svarṇapuḍkhāḥ suniśitāḥ karṇacāpacyutāḥ śarāḥ
Sañjaya said: “Arrows, keenly sharpened and fitted with golden feathers, shot forth from Karṇa’s bow.” The line underscores the relentless, highly skilled violence of the battlefield—where martial excellence and costly weaponry intensify the destructive momentum of war, even as the larger struggle over duty and righteousness continues.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse itself is primarily descriptive, but it implicitly highlights how refined skill and splendid weaponry can serve destructive ends in war; it invites reflection on the ethical weight of martial prowess when deployed in a conflict framed by dharma.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa is actively shooting volleys of extremely sharp arrows, distinguished by golden fletching, emphasizing Karṇa’s formidable presence and the escalating intensity of the battle.