Shloka 563
अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्
Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
आकर्णपूर्णान् चिक्षेप फाल्गुनस्य रथं प्रति । उसकी ध्वजापर वाराहका चिह्न था। उसने गीधकी पाँखोंसे युक्त, सीधे जानेवाले, सोनारके माँजे हुए तथा कुपित विषधरके समान बहुत-से बाण धनुषको कानतक खींचकर शीघ्रतापूर्वक अर्जुनके रथकी ओर चलाये
sañjaya uvāca | ākarṇapūrṇān cikṣepa phālgunasya rathaṃ prati |
Sañjaya said: Drawing his bow to the ear, he swiftly discharged volleys of arrows toward Phālguna’s chariot. Marked with the boar emblem upon its standard, and fitted with vulture-feathers, straight-flying, and keenly whetted like a goldsmith’s polished edge, those arrows sped forth like enraged venomous serpents—an image of the war’s relentless fury and the warriors’ unwavering resolve in battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the disciplined intensity of kṣatriya warfare: skill, speed, and resolve are exercised within the accepted code of battle, illustrating how duty-driven action can be fierce yet structured by the norms of righteous combat.
Sañjaya describes a warrior shooting fully drawn arrows rapidly toward Arjuna’s chariot; the description highlights the chariot’s boar-emblem standard and the deadly, well-crafted arrows rushing straight at their target.