Shloka 16
Arjuna’s Approach, Drona’s Recognition, and the Turning of the Cattle (अर्जुनागमनम्, द्रोणवाक्यम्, गोगमनिवृत्तिः)
मत्कार्मुकविनिर्मुक्ता: पार्थमाशीविषोपमा: । शरा: समभिसर्पन्तु वल्मीकमिव पन्नगा:,आज मेरे धनुषसे छूटे हुए सर्पोके समान विषैले बाण अर्जुनके शरीरमें उसी प्रकार प्रवेश करेंगे, जैसे साँप बाँबीमें घुसते हैं
matkārmukavinirmuktāḥ pārtham āśīviṣopamāḥ | śarāḥ samabhisarpantu valmīkam iva pannagāḥ ||
Karna mengisytiharkan: “Biarlah anak panah yang kulepaskan dari busurku—berbisa seperti ular maut—merayap masuk ke tubuh Arjuna, sebagaimana ular menyusup ke dalam busut.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos in battle—unyielding resolve and confidence in one’s martial skill—while also illustrating how personal pride and rivalry can sharpen violence, creating ethical tension even within a framework of dharma-yuddha.
Karna, facing Arjuna, boasts that the arrows he shoots from his bow will enter Arjuna’s body like venomous snakes entering an anthill—an aggressive battle image meant to intimidate and assert dominance.