Shloka 17
Adhyāya 17 — गजयुद्ध-वृत्तान्तः, सहदेव-दुःशासन-संघर्षः, नकुल-कर्ण-समागमः
Elephant-battle account; Sahadeva–Duhshasana clash; Nakula–Karna encounter
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत कर्णपर्वमें अश्वत्थागाकी पराजयविषयक सत्रहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
sa tomarair arka-kara-prabhais tribhir janārdanaṁ pañcabhir arjunaṁ śitaiḥ | samarpayitvā vinanāda nardayaṁs tato ’sya bāhū nicakarta pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: Com três dardos agudos, radiantes como os raios do sol, ele feriu Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), e com cinco outros, igualmente cortantes, feriu Arjuna. Depois de desferir tais golpes, rugiu em alta voz, exultante; mas, de imediato, o Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) decepou-lhe ambos os braços.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral logic of action and consequence in war: aggressive injury and boastful exultation are immediately met by a decisive counteraction. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form—skill, speed, and resolve determine outcomes—while also hinting that violence rebounds upon the violent through swift retribution.
A warrior hurls sharp tomara-javelins—three at Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana) and five at Arjuna—wounding them and roaring triumphantly. In immediate response, Arjuna severs the attacker’s two arms, abruptly ending his capacity to fight.