Shloka 12
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
चतुरज्ुृं बल॑ं बाणैनिध्नन्तं पाण्ड्यमाहवे । दृष्टवा द्रौणिरसम्भ्रान्तमसम्भ्रान्तस्ततो5 भ्ययात्
sañjaya uvāca |
caturaṅgaṃ balaṃ bāṇair nighnantaṃ pāṇḍyam āhave |
dṛṣṭvā drauṇir asambhrāntam asambhrāntas tato 'bhyayāt ||
Disse Sañjaya: Vendo o rei Pāṇḍya, no auge da batalha, dizimar com suas flechas o exército quádruplo dos Kauravas, o filho de Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā), igualmente inabalável, avançou para enfrentar aquele guerreiro inabalável. A cena ressalta a ética guerreira do kṣatriya: firmeza sob o perigo e decisão de encarar um adversário formidável sem pânico.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: maintaining composure (asambhrānti) and meeting a powerful foe directly. Ethical emphasis lies on courage and steadiness rather than panic or retreat when duty calls.
The Pāṇḍya king is cutting down the Kaurava fourfold army with arrows. Observing this, Aśvatthāman (Droṇa’s son) advances—calm and fearless—to confront him on the battlefield.