Shloka 463
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
अष्टाभिरष्टौ राधेयो<भ्यर्दयन्निशितै: शरै: । नरेन्द्र! प्रतापी राधापुत्र कर्णने दूरसे युद्ध करनेवाले उन आठों वीरोंको आठ पैने बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
aṣṭābhir aṣṭau rādheyo 'bhyardayann niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | narendra pratāpī rādhāputraḥ karṇaḥ dūrastha-yuddha-kāriṇaḥ tān aṣṭau vīrān aṣṭabhiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ bāṇaiḥ vyathayām āsa |
Disse Sañjaya: Ó rei, o poderoso Radheya—Karṇa, filho de Rādhā—atingiu aqueles oito guerreiros que lutavam à distância, ferindo cada um deles com oito flechas afiadas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily highlights martial efficacy rather than a direct moral maxim: in the chaos of war, prowess and precision can decisively shape outcomes. Ethically, it reflects the Mahabharata’s recurring tension—heroic skill is admirable, yet it operates within a destructive arena where victory is purchased through injury and loss.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhritarashtra that Karna (Radheya), displaying great might, shoots and wounds eight opposing warriors—each struck by sharp arrows—especially noting that they were fighting from a distance.