Shloka 356
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
आकर्णमूलं विव्याध दृढमायम्य कार्मुकम् । महाराज! उस समय कर्णने अपने सुदृढ़ धनुषको कानके पासतक खींचकर तीन बाणोंसे भीमसेनको क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया
ākarṇamūlaṃ vivyādha dṛḍham āyamya kārmukam |
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—മഹാരാജാവേ! അപ്പോൾ കർണ്ണൻ ദൃഢമായി ധനുസ്സ് വലിച്ച് ആകർണമൂലം വരെ എത്തിച്ച്, മൂന്നു ശരങ്ങളാൽ ഭീമസേനനെ കുത്തിപ്പിളർത്തി; അവൻ ക്ഷതവിക്ഷതനായി.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the severe moral landscape of Kurukṣetra: within kṣatriya-dharma, excellence in discipline and technique (a full ear-draw and firm bow) becomes ethically charged when used to injure. It invites reflection on how skill and resolve, though admirable, can serve destructive ends in war.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa drawing his strong bow to a full ear-draw and piercing Bhīmasena with powerful shots, leaving him wounded and torn in the ongoing combat.