Shloka 103
Karṇa-vadha-pratyaya: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Verification of Karṇa’s Fall (कर्णवध-प्रत्ययः)
तस्यैव न: श्रुतो यादृड़निवातकवचै: सह । किरीटधारी अर्जुनके साथ संशप्तकोंका वह संग्राम वैसा ही भयानक था, जैसा कि निवातकवच नामक दानवोंके साथ अर्जुनका युद्ध हमने सुन रखा है
sañjaya uvāca | tasyaiva naḥ śruto yādṛg nivātakavacaiḥ saha | kirīṭadhāriṇā arjunena saha saṃsaptakānāṃ saḥ saṅgrāmo yathā tathā bhayānaka āsīt |
サञ्जयは語った。「冠を戴くアルジュナに対するサṃサプタカたちの戦いは、われらが聞き伝える名高き合戦――アルジュナがニヴァータカヴァチャの魔族と戦ったあの戦――に劣らず恐るべきものであった。かの並外れた闘争を引き合いに出すことで、今この衝突の凄烈さと、誓願に駆られて執拗に攻め立てるサṃサプタカの不退転の決意とを、私は語り示すのである。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war narratives use remembered exemplars to measure present conduct: the Saṁsaptakas’ vow-driven persistence and Arjuna’s steadfast prowess are framed through a prior, legendary benchmark (the Nivātakavaca battle), highlighting resolve, duty, and the grave cost of martial commitment.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Saṁsaptakas’ engagement with Arjuna was extremely fearsome, comparable to the renowned battle Arjuna once fought against the Nivātakavaca demons—thereby emphasizing the intensity of the current encounter.