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 ||
ਜਦੋਂ ਉਹ ਟੁੱਟ ਪਏ, ਕਰਨ ਨੇ ਇਕ-ਇਕ ਤੀਰ ਨਾਲ ਇਕ-ਇਕ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਧ ਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਧਨੁਸ਼ ਅਤੇ ਤੀਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਗੱਛੇ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਡਾਹ ਦਿੱਤੇ।
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.