Shloka 43
स सायक: कर्णभुजप्रसृष्टो हुताशनार्कप्रतिमो महाई: । महोरग: कृतवैरो<र्जुनेन किरीटमाहत्य ततो व्यतीयात्,कर्णके हाथोंसे छूटा हुआ वह अग्नि और सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी, बहुमूल्य बाण, जो वास्तवमें अर्जुनके साथ वैर रखनेवाला महानाग था, उनके किरीटपर आघात करके पुनः वहाँसे लौट पड़ा
sa sāyakaḥ karṇabhujaprasṛṣṭo hutāśanārkapratimo mahāiḥ | mahoragaḥ kṛtavairo 'rjunena kirīṭam āhatya tato vyatīyāt ||
Sañjaya disse: A flecha disparada do braço de Karṇa—ardente como o fogo e o sol, de valor inestimável—parecia uma grande serpente que nutria inimizade contra Arjuna. Ao atingir o diadema de Arjuna, desviou-se e seguiu adiante. Esse instante mostra que, no furor da guerra, até um golpe quase fatal pode ser desviado, sugerindo a frágil fronteira entre a proeza e o destino.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the precariousness of life in battle and the interplay of human effort and destiny: even a supremely powerful, well-aimed weapon may result in a limited outcome, reminding readers that victory is not secured by prowess alone.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa shooting a blazing, precious arrow that is likened to a great serpent hostile to Arjuna; it strikes Arjuna’s crown (kirīṭa) and then passes on rather than killing him.