Shloka 28
तस्यास्त्रमस्त्रेण निहत्य सो5थ जघान संख्ये रथनागपत्तीन् | अमृष्यमाणश्न महेन्द्रकर्मा महारणे भार्गवास्त्रप्रतापात्
tasya astram astreṇa nihatya so 'tha jaghāna saṅkhye ratha-nāga-pattīn | amṛṣyamāṇaś ca mahendra-karmā mahāraṇe bhārgavāstra-pratāpāt ||
Sañjaya berkata: Setelah menumpaskan senjata lawan dengan senjatanya sendiri, maka di tengah pertempuran dia pun mula menumbangkan para pahlawan kereta, gajah, dan askar berjalan kaki. Tidak tahan akan tentangan dan menyala oleh amarah, Karṇa—dengan kekuatan senjata Bhārgava—memperlihatkan perbuatan seperti Indra dalam pertempuran besar itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of martial excellence: when astric power is joined with amṛṣyā (intolerance/irascibility), it accelerates slaughter. It implicitly invites reflection on restraint (dama) and responsibility in the use of extraordinary power, even when one is capable of Indra-like feats.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa countering an enemy weapon with his own (astra defeating astra) and then cutting down multiple battlefield units—chariots, elephants, and infantry—while empowered by the Bhārgavāstra, appearing Indra-like in prowess amid the great fight.