जिधघांसुरकेन्दुसमप्र भेण चक्रे विषक्तं रिपुमाततायी । किरीटथधारी अर्जुन अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हो अपने शत्रुको मारनेकी इच्छासे आततायी बन गये थे। उन्होंने चन्द्रमा और सूर्यके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाले उस विजयदायक श्रेष्ठ बाणसे अपने शत्रुको बींध डाला ।।
sañjaya uvāca | jighāṃsur arkendu-samaprabheṇa cakre viṣaktaṃ ripum ātatāyī | kirīṭadhārī arjunaḥ atyanta-prasannaḥ sva-śatroḥ māraṇecchayā ātatāyīva babhūva | sa candrārka-samaprabhaṃ vijayadaṃ śreṣṭha-bāṇaṃ ripau vidhya dadau || tathā vimukto balinārka-tejāḥ prajvālayām āsa diśo nabhaś ca | tato 'rjunas tasya śiro jahāra vṛtrasya vajreṇa yathā mahendraḥ ||
サञ्जयは語った。冠を戴くアルジュナは、眼前に侵攻者として立つ敵を討たんとする意志に燃え、月と太陽のごとく輝く、勝利をもたらす最上の矢を放って敵を貫いた。大力のアルジュナに放たれたその太陽のように眩い矢は、天空を燃え走り、四方を照らし出した。ついにアルジュナはその矢によってカルナの首を胴から断ち切った。あたかも偉大なるインドラが金剛杵(ヴァジュラ)でヴリトラの首を斬り落としたように。
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how epic warfare is ethically narrated through dharma-language: the enemy is characterized as an ātatāyī (aggressor), and the act is presented as a duty-bound culmination rather than mere personal hatred. At the same time, the blazing arrow and the severed head emphasize the grave, irreversible cost of war.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna releasing a brilliantly radiant, victory-bringing arrow that illuminates the sky and directions; with it he pierces the foe and then cuts off Karṇa’s head, likening the deed to Indra beheading Vṛtra with the vajra.