Shloka 21
द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः
Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute
सहदेवस्ततो राजन् विमना: शरपीडित: । कर्णवाक्छरतप्तक्ष जीवितान्निरविद्यत,राजन्! तदनन्तर सहदेव कर्णके बाणोंसे पीड़ित और उसके वचनरूपी बाणोंसे संतप्त एवं खिन्नचित्त हो अपने जीवनसे विरक्त हो गये
sahadevas tato rājan vimanāḥ śarapīḍitaḥ | karṇavāk-śarataptākṣa jīvitān niravindyata, rājan |
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian, wahai Raja, Sahadeva—muram dan diseksa oleh anak panah—matanya seakan terbakar oleh kata-kata Karṇa yang tajam bagaikan panah; lalu ia pun jemu terhadap hidupnya sendiri.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that violence in war is twofold: physical injury from weapons and mental injury from cruel, humiliating speech. Words can function like arrows, intensifying suffering and undermining resolve; therefore, ethical restraint in speech remains significant even amid conflict.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Sahadeva, struck by Karṇa’s arrows and further distressed by Karṇa’s cutting, ‘arrow-like’ words, becomes dejected and loses attachment to life—showing a moment of severe physical and psychological collapse on the battlefield.