Shloka 6
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
यद् यद्धि व्याक्षिपद् युद्धे पाण्डवो<5स्त्रजिघांसया । तत् तदस्त्रं महेष्वासो द्रोणपुत्रो व्यशातयत्
yad yaddhi vyākṣipad yuddhe pāṇḍavo 'strajighāṃsayā | tat tadastraṃ maheṣvāso droṇaputro vyaśātayat ||
ಯುದ್ಧದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಂಡವ ಅರ್ಜುನನು ಶತ್ರುವಿನ ಅಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ನಾಶಮಾಡುವ ಉದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ ಯಾವ ಯಾವ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಎಸೆದನೋ, ಮಹಾಧನುರ್ದರ ದ್ರೋಣಪುತ್ರನು ಆ ಆ ಅಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ ನಿಷ್ಫಲಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how, in war, technical mastery and timely countermeasures can nullify even powerful attacks. Ethically, it also reflects the grim momentum of combat: intent (jighāṃsā) and skill combine to intensify violence, reminding readers that prowess in arms does not by itself resolve the deeper moral tragedy of war.
Sañjaya describes a duel-like exchange: Arjuna launches various astras to destroy or overcome the opponent’s weaponry, but Aśvatthāmā, famed as Droṇa’s son and a great archer, cuts down each incoming missile, preventing Arjuna’s weapons from taking effect on the battlefield.