Shloka 3
वज्नेण निहतो वृत्र: संयुगे भूरितेजसा । त्वया तु निहतः कर्णो धनुषा निशितै: शरै:,“वृत्रासुर युद्धमें महातेजस्वी वज्रके द्वारा मारा गया था; परंतु तुमने कर्णको धनुष एवं पैने बाणोंसे ही मार डाला है
vajreṇa nihato vṛtraḥ saṃyuge bhūritejasā | tvayā tu nihataḥ karṇo dhanuṣā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
サンジャヤは言った――戦においてヴリトラは、赫々たる威光を放つ者（インドラ）の金剛（ヴァジュラ）によって討たれた。だが、おまえは――ダナンジャヤよ――弓と鋭い矢によってカルナを討ったのだ。この言葉は比類なき武勇を示す。かつて神の武器によってのみ倒れた敵に比せられるほどの強者カルナが、人の技と揺るがぬ努力によって斃れたのであり、戦の道義的な重みと悲壮なる壮麗さはいよいよ深まる。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the magnitude of Karṇa’s fall by comparing it to the mythic slaying of Vṛtra by Indra’s vajra. Ethically, it frames the event as a moment of grave consequence in the war: human agency and skill can achieve what is otherwise attributed to divine weaponry, thereby intensifying responsibility, fame, and the tragic cost of victory.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, contrasting two slayings: Vṛtra was killed in battle by Indra’s thunderbolt, whereas Karṇa has been killed by the addressee (contextually Arjuna) using a bow and sharp arrows. The comparison serves to magnify the deed and the stature of the fallen warrior.