Shloka 416
कर्णभीमयुद्धम्
Karna–Bhīma Combat Report
केतुमेकेन चिच्छेद पाण्डवं चार्दयत् त्रिभि: । फिर एक भल्ल चलाकर उनका धनुष काट दिया। एक भल््लसे इन्द्रध्वजके समान उनकी ध्वजा खण्डित कर दी और तीन बाणोंसे पाण्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरको भी पीड़ा पहुँचायी
ketum ekena ciccheda pāṇḍavaṃ cārdhayat tribhiḥ |
सञ्जय उवाच—एकेन केतुमच्छिनत्, त्रिभिश्च पाण्डवं व्यथयामास। पुनश्चैकं भल्लं प्रेष्य धनुश्छित्त्वा, अन्येन भल्लेन ध्वजं इन्द्रध्वजसमं खण्डयामास; त्रिभिर्बाणैश्च पाण्डुपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरं पीडयामास।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare targets both the body and symbols of honor (banner, bow) to break morale; ethically, it underscores the tension in the Mahābhārata between pursuing dharma and enduring the brutal means of a righteous war.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior strikes the Pāṇḍava side: he cuts down the banner with one arrow and then wounds the Pāṇḍava (understood as Yudhiṣṭhira) with three arrows, causing him pain and attempting to destabilize him in battle.