कर्णवधप्रसङ्गः / The Context of Karṇa’s Fall
Krishna’s Dharmic Recollection and the Decisive Astra
दृष्टवा रथं मेघरवं ममैव समस्तसेना च रणे< भ्यतिष्ठत् । तेषामहं पठ्च शतानि हत्वा ततो द्रौणिमगमं पार्थिवाग्रय
Arjuna uvāca: dṛṣṭvā rathaṁ megharavaṁ mamaiva samastasenā ca raṇe 'bhyatiṣṭhat | teṣām ahaṁ pañcaśatāni hatvā tato drauṇim agamaṁ pārthivāgrya bhūpālaśiromaṇe ||
Arjuna disse: “Ao verem meu carro, que ribombava como nuvem de tempestade, todo o exército kaurava manteve-se firme na batalha. Então, depois de abater quinhentos de seus guerreiros, avancei para atacar o filho de Droṇa, o filho do mestre. Ó primeiro entre os reis, joia no alto entre os soberanos!”
अजुन उवाच
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of steadfastness and initiative in battle: when confronted by a massed enemy, Arjuna does not retreat but acts decisively, moving from general engagement to a focused confrontation with a principal opponent.
The Kaurava forces, seeing Arjuna’s cloud-roaring chariot, form up to fight. Arjuna cuts down five hundred warriors from that host and then advances to engage Droṇa’s son, Aśvatthāman.