Shloka 48
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
पश्य पार्थ यथा द्रौणि: पार्षतस्य वरध॑ प्रति । यत्नं करोति विपुलं हन्याच्चैनं न संशय:,इसी समय श्रीकृष्णने अर्जुनसे कहा--'पार्थ! वह देखो, द्रोणकुमार अभश्वत्थामा धृष्टद्युम्नके वधके लिये कैसा महान् प्रयत्न कर रहा है? वह इन्हें मार सकता है, इसमें संशय नहीं है
paśya pārtha yathā drauṇiḥ pārṣatasya varadhaṁ prati | yatnaṁ karoti vipulaṁ hanyāc cainaṁ na saṁśayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Look, O Pārtha—see how Droṇa’s son, Aśvatthāman, is exerting immense effort against the son of Pārṣata (Dhṛṣṭadyumna). He can indeed slay him; of this there is no doubt.” The verse highlights the grim certainty that, amid the chaos of war, even a capable and righteous commander may become vulnerable when targeted by a determined and powerful foe—raising the ethical tension between martial prowess, fate, and the cost of vengeance-driven combat.
संजय उवाच