Shloka 39
Somadatta’s Kṣātra-Dharma Accusation; Night Combat, Māyā, and the Fall of Ghaṭotkaca
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 131
ततो व्यायच्छतामस्त्रै: पृथक् पृथगजिद्ाागै: । मृदुपूर्व तु राधेयो दृढपूर्व तु पाण्डव:,तदनन्तर वे दोनों वीर एक-दूसरेपर पृथक्-पृथक् सीधे जानेवाले बाणोंका प्रहार करने लगे। राधानन्दन कर्ण मृदुतापूर्वक बाण चलाता था और पाण्डुनन्दन भीमसेन कठोरतापूर्वक
tato vyāyacchatām astraiḥ pṛthak pṛthag ajihmagaiḥ | mṛdu-pūrvaṁ tu rādheyo dṛḍha-pūrvaṁ tu pāṇḍavaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—ततोऽन्योन्यं पृथक् पृथग् अजिह्मगैः शरैः प्रहारं चक्रतुः। राधेयो मृदुपूर्वं शरान् मुमोच, पाण्डवो (भीमसेनः) तु दृढपूर्वं प्रत्यविध्यत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within the same duty of battle, conduct can vary: one may act with restraint (mṛdu), another with force (dṛḍha). The verse highlights ethical nuance—intensity and self-control are both modes of action, and the narrative invites reflection on intention and temperament in righteous or obligatory conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa and Bhīma exchange volleys of straight-flying arrows. Karṇa’s shooting is described as comparatively restrained, while Bhīma’s response is described as more forceful and hard-hitting.