Shloka 19
तदनन्तर सम्पूर्ण विश्वके विख्यात धनुर्धर वीर पुरुषसिंह कर्ण और अर्जुन प्राणोंका मोह छोड़कर युद्ध करते-करते थक गये। उस समय आकाशमें खड़ी हुई अप्सराओंने दिव्य चँवर डुलाकर उन दोनोंको चन्दनके जलसे सींचा। फिर इन्द्र और सूर्यने अपने कर- कमलोंसे उनके मुँह पोंछे ।। कर्णो5थ पार्थ न विशेषयद् यदा भृशं च पार्थेन शराभितप्त: । ततस्तु वीर: शरविक्षताड्े दश्ने मनो होकशयस्य तस्य,जब किसी तरह कर्ण युद्धमें अर्जुनसे बढ़कर पराक्रम न दिखा सका और अर्जुनने अपने बाणोंकी मारसे उसे अत्यन्त संतप्त कर दिया, तब बाणोंके आघातसे सारा शरीर क्षत-विक्षत हो जानेके कारण वीर कर्णने उस सर्पमुख बाणके प्रहारका विचार किया
tadanantaraṃ sampūrṇa-viśvake vikhyāta-dhanurdhara-vīra-puruṣasiṃhaḥ karṇaś cārjunaś ca prāṇānāṃ mohaṃ tyaktvā yuddhaṃ kurvāṇau kurvāṇau śrāntau babhūvatuḥ | tasmin kāle ākāśe sthitā apsarasaḥ divyaiś cāmaraiḥ tāv ubhau candanodakena siñcantyaḥ | punar indraś ca sūryaś ca sva-karakamalaiḥ tayoḥ mukhe parimārjya | karṇo ’tha pārthaṃ na viśeṣayad yadā bhṛśaṃ ca pārthena śarābhitaptaḥ | tatas tu vīraḥ śaravikṣatāṅgo daṣṭre manasā hoḍhaśayasya tasya ||
Depois disso, os arqueiros afamados no mundo—os heróis leoninos Karna e Arjuna—lançando fora todo temor pela vida, lutaram até se cansarem. Então as apsaras, postadas no céu, abanaram-nos com châmaras divinos e aspergiram-nos com água perfumada de sândalo; e o próprio Indra e o Sol lhes enxugaram o rosto com mãos semelhantes a lótus. Mas, quando Karna não pôde, de modo algum, sobrepujar Arjuna em proeza e foi duramente abrasado pelas flechas de Arjuna, com o corpo rasgado e ferido pelos dardos, o valente Karna voltou o pensamento para o golpe daquele míssil de face serpentina.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous-war framework, prowess alone may fail; when a warrior feels outmatched, the temptation is to seek a decisive ‘special’ weapon. The verse highlights how divine forces can sustain fighters, yet human choice—especially under pressure—shapes the ethical direction of the conflict.
Karna and Arjuna fight intensely until both are exhausted. Celestial beings and gods refresh them. Then, as Karna cannot gain the upper hand and is badly wounded by Arjuna’s arrows, he resolves to employ the serpent-faced missile as a turning point in the duel.