Shloka 92
स कर्णमाकर्णविकृष्टसूष्टै: शरै: शरीरान्तकरैज्वलडद्धि: | मर्मस्वविध्यत् स चचाल दुःखाद् दैवादवातिष्ठत धैर्यबुद्धिः
sa karṇam ākarṇa-vikṛṣṭa-sūṣṭaiḥ śaraiḥ śarīrānta-karair jvaladbhīḥ | marmasv avidhyat sa cacāla duḥkhād daivād avātiṣṭhata dhairya-buddhiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan anak panah yang menyala, ditarik hingga ke telinga lalu dilepaskan dengan segenap tenaga—panah yang mampu menamatkan hayat—Arjuna menikam titik-titik vital Karṇa hingga luka yang dalam. Karṇa terhuyung-hayang menahan sakit; namun, menghimpun keteguhan hati dan ditahan oleh putaran takdir, dia tetap berdiri di medan perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣātra-dharma as endurance under suffering: even when struck in vital points and shaken by pain, a warrior is portrayed as regaining dhairya (steadfastness). It also frames human effort within daiva (the turn of fate), suggesting that perseverance and destiny together shape outcomes.
In Sañjaya’s report, Karṇa is hit by fully drawn, blazing, deadly arrows that pierce his vital spots. He staggers from the pain but, mustering courage and steadiness of mind, continues to hold his ground in the battle.