Shloka 18
अलम्बुषस्तत: क्रुद्धो भैमसेनिं महामृधे । आजसणघ्ने दशभिरन्बाणैस्तोत्रैरिव महाद्विपम्,अभियाति द्रुतं कर्ण तद् वारय महारथम् । संजय कहते हैं--राजन! युद्धस्थलमें इस प्रकार कर्णका वध करनेकी इच्छासे उद्यत हुए घटोत्कचको सूतपुत्रके रथकी ओर आते देख आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनने दःशासनसे इस प्रकार कहा--'भाई! यह राक्षस रणभूमिमें कर्णका वेगपूर्वक पराक्रम देखकर तीव्र गतिसे उसपर आक्रमण कर रहा है; अतः उस महारथी घटोत्कचको रोको
sañjaya uvāca |
alambuṣas tataḥ kruddho bhaimaseniṃ mahāmṛdhe |
ājasandhgne daśabhir bāṇais totrair iva mahādvipam |
abhiyāti drutaṃ karṇa tad vārayā mahāratham ||
Sañjaya said: “Then Alambuṣa, enraged in that great battle, struck Bhīmasena’s son with ten arrows—like a great elephant goaded with a hook. He rushed swiftly toward Karṇa; restrain that mighty chariot-warrior.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield ethics and strategy: uncontrolled wrath drives violent escalation, while leadership demands timely restraint of a powerful warrior to prevent disproportionate harm and protect one’s side.
Sañjaya reports that Alambuṣa, angered, pierces Ghaṭotkaca (Bhīma’s son) with ten arrows, likening the provocation to goading an elephant, and then moves swiftly toward Karṇa; a call is made to check that advancing mahāratha.