Shloka 89
शरै: प्रचिच्छेद तवात्मजस्य ध्वजं धनुश्न प्रचकर्त नर्दतः । जघान चाश्वान् कृतवर्मण: शुभान् ध्वजं च चिच्छेद तत: प्रतापवान्,तत्पश्चात् प्रतापी अर्जुनने गर्जना करनेवाले आपके पुत्र दुर्योधनके ध्वज और धनुषको अपने बाणोंद्वारा काट दिया। फिर कृतवर्माके सुन्दर घोड़ोंको मार डाला और उसकी ध्वजाके भी टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर डाले
śaraiḥ praciccheda tavātmajasya dhvajaṃ dhanuś ca pracakarta nardataḥ | jaghāna cāśvān kṛtavarmaṇaḥ śubhān dhvajaṃ ca ciccheda tataḥ pratāpavān ||
カルナは言った。「その剛勇の戦士は矢で、戦場に吼える汝の子の旗印を断ち、弓をも打ち砕いた。ついでクリタヴァルマンの見事な馬を討ち、その旗もまた細切れにした。」
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of external symbols of power—banner, bow, and cavalry—when confronted by superior skill and resolve. Ethically, it reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya warfare: prideful roaring and display do not protect one from the consequences of combat, and prowess can rapidly reverse a warrior’s standing.
In the midst of battle, Arjuna uses his arrows to sever Duryodhana’s standard and break his bow. He then kills Kṛtavarman’s horses and cuts down Kṛtavarman’s banner as well, demonstrating dominance by disabling both the warrior’s weapons and the visible emblems of their battlefield presence.