Shloka 76
शरार्चिषं गाण्डिवचारुमण्डलं युगान्तसूर्यप्रतिमानतेजसम् । न कौरवा: शेकुरुदीक्षितुं जयं यथा रविं व्याधितचक्षुषो जना:
śarārciṣaṃ gāṇḍīva-cāru-maṇḍalaṃ yugānta-sūrya-pratimāna-tejasam | na kauravāḥ śekur udīkṣituṃ jayaṃ yathā raviṃ vyādhita-cakṣuṣo janāḥ ||
Karna berkata: “Pada saat itu Arjuna tampak menyala seperti matahari di penghujung zaman. Anak panahnya memancar seperti aliran sinar ke segala arah, dan Gāṇḍīva yang ditarik tegang kelihatan bagaikan cakera matahari yang indah. Seperti orang yang sakit mata tidak mampu menatap matahari, demikianlah kaum Kaurava tidak sanggup memandang ke arah Arjuna—ditundukkan oleh sinar keperkasaannya dan kepastian kemenangannya.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how tejas (martial splendour and inner force) can decide battles not only by weapons but by breaking the opponent’s confidence. Ethical context: prowess aligned with purpose appears irresistible, and fear arises when one confronts a power perceived as rightful and inevitable.
Karna describes Arjuna on the battlefield as blazing like the apocalyptic sun: arrows scatter like rays, the drawn Gāṇḍīva resembles the sun’s orb, and the Kaurava warriors are unable to gaze at him—like men with diseased eyes facing the sun—signifying their intimidation and Arjuna’s dominance at that moment.