Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 155 — Ghaṭotkaca-nidhana-śoka and Karṇa-śakti-vyaya
Kṛṣṇa’s strategic reassurance
स तेनाकर्णमुक्तेन विद्धो बाणेन कौरव:
sa tenākarṇamuktena viddho bāṇena kauravaḥ
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಕಿವಿವರೆಗೆ ಎಳೆದು ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ ಆ ಬಾಣದಿಂದ ವಿದ್ಧನಾಗಿ ಆ ಕೌರವ ಯೋಧನು ಭೇದಿತನಾದನು; ರಣಕ್ರೋಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೌಶಲ್ಯವೂ ದೃಢಸಂಕಲ್ಪವೂ ಕ್ಷಣದಲ್ಲೇ ಘಾತಕ ಆಘಾತವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the immediacy of consequences in war: when power and precision are applied without restraint, injury follows at once—highlighting the ethical weight carried by martial prowess in a dharmic conflict.
Sanjaya reports that a Kaurava fighter is pierced by an arrow shot at full draw (ākarṇamukta), indicating a highly forceful, expertly released missile in the midst of the Drona Parva battle.