Shloka 11
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
ततः सुपुड्खैर्निशितै रथश्रेष्ठो रथेषुभि: । अवधीत् पज्चविंशत्या पञज्चालान् पञ्चविंशतिम्,तदनन्तर रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कर्णने सुन्दर पंखवाले पचीस पैने बाणोंद्वारा पचीस पांचालोंको कालके गालमें भेज दिया
tataḥ supuṅkhair niśitai rathaśreṣṭho ratheṣubhiḥ | avadhīt pañcaviṃśatyā pañcālān pañcaviṃśatim ||
അതിനുശേഷം രഥയോദ്ധാക്കളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ കർണ്ണൻ മനോഹരമായ ചിറകുകളുള്ള ഇരുപത്തഞ്ച് മൂർച്ചയേറിയ അമ്പുകളാൽ ഇരുപത്തഞ്ച് പാഞ്ചാലരെ വധിച്ചു।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic’s stark portrayal of war: extraordinary skill and resolve can coexist with grave ethical cost. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (the warrior’s duty) and the tragic inevitability of death once a righteous order collapses into total conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, fighting from his chariot, releases twenty-five sharp, well-feathered arrows and kills twenty-five Pāñcāla warriors in quick succession, emphasizing Karṇa’s battlefield dominance at this moment.