Shloka 15
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
हयाश्व पर्यधावन्त मुक्तयोक््त्रास्ततस्तत: । तद् दृष्टवा कर्म पार्थस्य द्रौणिराहवशोभिन:
hayāśvā paryadhāvanta muktayoktrāstatastataḥ | tad dṛṣṭvā karma pārthasya drauṇir āhavaśobhinaḥ, avākiruttato drauṇiḥ samantān niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |
サञ्जयは言った。「轅と馬具の締めがほどけ、馬たちは四方へと走り散った。戦のただ中でひときわ輝くパールタ（アルジュナ）のその働きを見て、ドローナの子ドローニ（アシュヴァッターマン）はたちまち駆け寄り、四方から鋭い矢を雨のごとく浴びせて、正義を掲げながらも苛烈に人を滅ぼす戦の要請の中で、アルジュナの武威を抑えようとした。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly battlefield conditions shift: a moment of disruption (horses breaking loose) is met by immediate tactical response. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya world where valor and counter-valor operate within the harsh logic of war—prowess invites challenge, and duty compels engagement even when the consequences are severe.
The horses, freed from their harness, scatter in different directions. Observing Arjuna’s striking action amid the battle, Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi) rushes toward him and attacks by surrounding him with a dense shower of sharp arrows from all sides.