Mahabharata 7.175.16 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 16
धावमानस्य योधस्य क्षुरप्रै: स महामृथे । बाहू चिच्छेद वै कर्ण: शिरश्चनैव सकुण्डलम्,कर्ण उस महासमरमें अपने क्षुरप्रोंद्वारा भागते हुए योद्धाकी दोनों भुजाओं तथा कुण्डलमण्डित मस्तकको भी काट डाला था
dhāvamānasya yodhasya kṣurapraiḥ sa mahāmṛdhe | bāhū ciccheda vai karṇaḥ śiraś caiva sakuṇḍalam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam pertempuran besar yang mengganas itu, Karṇa dengan anak panahnya yang tajam bak pisau cukur telah memutuskan kedua-dua lengan seorang pahlawan yang sedang melarikan diri, lalu menetak putus kepalanya pula—yang masih berhias subang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical tension of warfare: martial skill and duty can manifest as extreme violence, reminding readers that entering war entails grave, irreversible outcomes and tests the boundaries of restraint and righteousness.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, using razor-edged arrows, strikes a fleeing warrior—severing both arms and then cutting off the warrior’s head, described as still bearing earrings.
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