Shloka 69
अथान्यद् धनुरादाय सूतपुत्र: प्रतापवान् | सायकैरष्टसाहस्नैश्छादयामास पाण्डवम्,तब प्रतापी सूतपुत्रने दूसरा धनुष हाथमें लेकर आठ हजार बाणोंसे पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनको ढक दिया
athānyad dhanur ādāya sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān | sāyakair aṣṭasāhasraiś chādayāmāsa pāṇḍavam ||
Sañjaya said: Then the valiant son of the charioteer took up another bow and, with eight thousand arrows, completely covered the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna). The scene underscores the relentless intensity of battle—where prowess and resolve are tested—while also hinting at the ethical tension of war: extraordinary skill is displayed in service of a destructive conflict.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary capability and determination can be deployed within war, raising an implicit ethical tension: martial excellence (vīrya/pratāpa) is admirable, yet its use in a destructive struggle invites reflection on the costs of conflict and the responsibilities tied to power.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa taking up a different bow and unleashing a massive volley—eight thousand arrows—so dense that Arjuna is said to be ‘covered’ by them, emphasizing the ferocity and scale of the duel.