Shloka 18
तत्पश्चात् उन्होंने अधिरथपुत्र कर्णपर पुनः एक भारी गदा छोड़ी। परंतु कर्णने तेज किये हुए सुन्दर पंखवाले दूसरे-दूसरे बहुत-से बाण मारकर उस गदाको बींध डाला। इससे वह पुनः भीमपर ही लौट आयी ।। व्यालीव मन्त्राभिहता कर्णबाणैरभिद्रुता । तस्या: प्रतिनिपातेन भीमस्य विपुलो ध्वज:
vyālīva mantrābhihatā karṇabāṇair abhidrutā | tasyāḥ pratinipātena bhīmasya vipulo dhvajaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Bhīma hurled yet another massive mace at Karṇa, the son of Adhiratha. But Karṇa, with many swift, well-feathered arrows, pierced that mace and drove it back; and by its recoil it returned again toward Bhīma. In the clash of prowess, the verse underscores a warrior’s disciplined skill and presence of mind—power is checked by precision, and violence rebounds upon the one who unleashes it.
संजय उवाच