Shloka 20
दुर्योधनस्य कर्णप्रार्थना — कृपकर्णसंवादः
Duryodhana’s Appeal to Karna — The Kripa–Karna Dialogue
त॑ प्रयान्तमभिद्रुत्य राधेय: कड्कपत्रिभि: । अभ्यवर्षन्महाराज मेघो वृष्ट्येव पर्वतम्,महाराज! वहाँसे जाते हुए भीमसेनपर आक्रमण करके राधापुत्र कर्णने उनके ऊपर कंकपत्रयुक्त बाणोंकी उसी प्रकार वर्षा आरम्भ कर दी, जैसे बादल पर्वतपर जलकी वर्षा करता है
taṁ prayāntam abhidrutyā rādheyaḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ | abhyavarṣan mahārāja megho vṛṣṭyeva parvatam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—महाराज, भीमसेनः प्रयान्तं तं दृष्ट्वा राधेयः कर्णोऽभिद्रुत्य कङ्कपत्रिभिः शरैस्तमभ्यवर्षत्, यथा मेघः पर्वतमिव वृष्ट्या अभ्यवर्षति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the uncompromising force of kṣatriya warfare: once engaged, combatants press advantage through pursuit and sustained attack. Ethically, it reflects the battlefield reality where personal respite is rare and prowess is measured by resolve and effectiveness, even as the larger epic invites reflection on the human cost of such relentless conflict.
As Bhīma is moving away, Karna charges after him and unleashes a dense volley of arrows. Sañjaya describes the barrage through a vivid simile: Karna’s arrows fall on Bhīma like rain from a cloud striking a mountain.