Shloka 51
तस्य कर्ण: शितान् बाणान् प्रतिहत्य हसन्निव । धनु: शरांश्व चिच्छेद सूतं चाभ्यहनच्छरै:,तब कर्णने हँसते हुए-से उनके तीखे बाणोंको नष्ट करके धनुष और बाण भी काट डाले; फिर अनेक बाणोंद्वारा उनके सारथिको भी मार डाला
tasya karṇaḥ śitān bāṇān pratihaty hasann iva | dhanuḥ śarāṃś ca ciccheda sūtaṃ cābhyahanac charaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Karna, seolah-olah ketawa, menangkis dan memusnahkan anak panah tajam lawannya. Kemudian dia memutuskan busur dan anak panah, dan dengan hujan panah dia turut menewaskan sais kereta.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, skill and strategy often turn toward disabling an opponent’s capacity to fight—repelling weapons, breaking the bow, and removing support personnel. Ethically, it also raises the tension between battlefield success and compassion: triumph achieved through ruthless escalation can be effective yet morally troubling.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa repelling sharp arrows, then severing the opponent’s bow and arrows, and finally striking down the charioteer with many arrows—effectively crippling the enemy’s chariot-fighting ability.