Shloka 17
Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort
कर्णस्तेषामापततामेकैकेन शरेण ह । धनूंषि च शरब्रातान् पातयामास भूतले
karṇas teṣām āpatatām ekaikena śareṇa ha | dhanūṃṣi ca śarabrātān pātayāmāsa bhūtale ||
Nārada berkata: Ketika mereka menyerbu, Karṇa memanah setiap seorang dengan sebatang anak panah sahaja, hingga busur dan ikatan anak panah mereka jatuh ke bumi. Adegan ini menegaskan etika tempur kṣatriya: kemahiran yang tegas dan menentukan, digunakan untuk melucutkan senjata dan menundukkan lawan dalam bahang pertempuran.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of mastery and decisiveness in battle: superior skill can neutralize opponents swiftly, often by disarming them, demonstrating controlled power rather than mere slaughter.
As multiple foes rush forward, Karṇa shoots each attacker with a single arrow, knocking down their bows and arrow-sheaves onto the ground, effectively disabling their ability to fight.