Shloka 12
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
चतुरज्ुृं बल॑ं बाणैनिध्नन्तं पाण्ड्यमाहवे । दृष्टवा द्रौणिरसम्भ्रान्तमसम्भ्रान्तस्ततो5 भ्ययात्,राजा पाण्ड्यको समरांगणमें बिना किसी घबराहटके अपने बाणोंद्वारा कौरवोंकी चतुरंगिणी सेनाका विनाश करते देख अभश्वत्थामाने निर्भय होकर उनका सामना किया
sañjaya uvāca |
caturaṅgaṃ balaṃ bāṇair nighnantaṃ pāṇḍyam āhave |
dṛṣṭvā drauṇir asambhrāntam asambhrāntas tato 'bhyayāt ||
Sañjaya said: Seeing the Pāṇḍya king in the thick of battle striking down the fourfold Kaurava host with his arrows, Droṇa’s son (Aśvatthāman), himself unshaken, advanced to meet that unshaken warrior. The scene underscores the ethic of kṣatriya warfare: steadfastness under peril and the resolve to confront a formidable opponent without panic.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: maintaining composure (asambhrānti) and meeting a powerful foe directly. Ethical emphasis lies on courage and steadiness rather than panic or retreat when duty calls.
The Pāṇḍya king is cutting down the Kaurava fourfold army with arrows. Observing this, Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) advances—calm and fearless—to confront him on the battlefield.