Shloka 37
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
तस्य भित्त्वा तनुत्राणं भित्त्वा कायं च सायक:
tasya bhittvā tanutrāṇaṃ bhittvā kāyaṃ ca sāyakaḥ
Sañjaya said: The arrow, having pierced through his armor and then tearing into his very body, struck with lethal force—an image of the battle’s relentless violence, where protection and flesh alike are shattered in the pursuit of victory.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the stark reality of war: even the best protections fail, and bodily life is fragile. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—kṣatriya duty and martial valor on one side, and the immense human cost of violence on the other.
Sañjaya describes a combat moment where an arrow penetrates a warrior’s armor and then wounds his body, emphasizing the intensity and decisiveness of the ongoing battle in the Karṇa Parva.