Shloka 8
कृत्वा विमर्द महदर्जुनेन कर्णो हत: केसरिणेव नाग: । तीर्णा प्रतिज्ञा पुरुषर्षभेण वैरस्यान्तं गतवांश्षापि पार्थ:
kṛtvā vimardaṃ mahad arjunena karṇo hataḥ kesariṇeva nāgaḥ | tīrṇā pratijñā puruṣarṣabheṇa vairasyāntaṃ gatavān so’pi pārthaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Setelah pertempuran besar dan menghancurkan yang dicetuskan oleh Arjuna, Karṇa pun terbunuh—seperti gajah dijatuhkan oleh singa. Maka Pārtha (Arjuna), sang unggul antara manusia, menunaikan sumpahnya dan menamatkan permusuhan yang telah lama berlarutan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the binding force of a solemn vow (pratijñā) and the harsh moral terrain of kṣatriya-dharma: even when the outcome is tragic, a warrior is portrayed as obligated to complete a pledged duty and bring a conflict to its decisive end.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after an intense battle, kills Karṇa. The simile compares Karṇa’s fall to an elephant felled by a lion. Arjuna thereby completes his vow and ends the enmity centered on this duel.