Shloka 103
Karṇa-vadha-pratyaya: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Verification of Karṇa’s Fall (कर्णवध-प्रत्ययः)
तस्यैव न: श्रुतो यादृड़निवातकवचै: सह । किरीटधारी अर्जुनके साथ संशप्तकोंका वह संग्राम वैसा ही भयानक था, जैसा कि निवातकवच नामक दानवोंके साथ अर्जुनका युद्ध हमने सुन रखा है
sañjaya uvāca | tasyaiva naḥ śruto yādṛg nivātakavacaiḥ saha | kirīṭadhāriṇā arjunena saha saṃsaptakānāṃ saḥ saṅgrāmo yathā tathā bhayānaka āsīt |
Sañjaya berkata: “Pertempuran kaum Saṁsaptaka menentang Arjuna, si pemakai diadem, adalah setakutkan pertempuran masyhur yang pernah kita dengar—perang Arjuna melawan para raksasa Nivātakavaca. Dengan mengingatkan perjuangan luar biasa itu, aku menegaskan keganasan pertembungan kini serta tekad Saṁsaptaka yang didorong sumpah, terus menekan tanpa mengenal undur.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war narratives use remembered exemplars to measure present conduct: the Saṁsaptakas’ vow-driven persistence and Arjuna’s steadfast prowess are framed through a prior, legendary benchmark (the Nivātakavaca battle), highlighting resolve, duty, and the grave cost of martial commitment.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Saṁsaptakas’ engagement with Arjuna was extremely fearsome, comparable to the renowned battle Arjuna once fought against the Nivātakavaca demons—thereby emphasizing the intensity of the current encounter.