Shloka 88
Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
तत् तदादाय चिक्षेप क्रुद्ध: कर्णाय पाण्डव: । तदस्य सर्व चिच्छेद क्षिप्तं क्षिप्तं शितैः शरै:,कर्णने अपने बाणोंद्वारा उस हाथीके भी टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर दिये। तब पाण्डुनन्दन भीमने हाथीके कटे हुए अंगोंको ही कर्णपर फेंकना शुरू किया। रथोंके पहिये, घोड़ोंकी लाशें तथा और भी जो-जो वस्तुएँ वे धरतीपर पड़ी देखते, उन्हें उठाकर क्रोधपूर्वक कर्णपर फेंकते थे; परंतु वे जो-जो वस्तु फेंकते, उन सबको कर्ण अपने तीखे बाणोंसे काट डालता था
tat tadādāya cikṣepa kruddhaḥ karṇāya pāṇḍavaḥ | tad asya sarvaṃ ciccheda kṣiptaṃ kṣiptaṃ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Enraged, the Pāṇḍava (Bhīma) kept snatching up whatever lay at hand and hurling it at Karṇa. Yet Karṇa, with razor-sharp arrows, cut to pieces each and every object the moment it was thrown. The scene underscores how fury seeks any means to strike, while disciplined martial skill meets force with precise restraint—turning even chaotic violence into a contest of control.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts uncontrolled anger with trained mastery: rage improvises with whatever it can grasp, while disciplined skill responds with precision. In the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame, prowess is not merely strength but control—how one channels power amid chaos.
During the battle, Bhīma (the Pāṇḍava) angrily hurls whatever he can pick up at Karṇa. Karṇa counters by slicing apart each thrown object with sharp arrows as soon as it is launched.