Shloka 21
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
प्रगृह्ा च महाशक्ति कालशक्तिमिवापराम् | समुत्क्षिप्प च राधेय: संधाय च महाबल:
pragṛhya ca mahāśaktiṃ kālaśaktim ivāparām | samutkṣipya ca rādhēyaḥ saṃdhāya ca mahābalaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—राधेयः महाबलः कालशक्तिमिवापराम् महाशक्तिं प्रगृह्य, समुत्क्षिप्य च संधाय, निर्णायकं भीषणं क्षणमिव युद्धस्य समीपं नयन् प्रक्षेपणाय समायत्तोऽभवत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial action under the shadow of Kāla (Time/Death): even heroic strength and weapon-skill operate within an inexorable moral and existential horizon. It highlights how war compresses choice into moments where intent, consequence, and fate converge.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa taking up a powerful spear, lifting it, and carefully aiming—signaling an imminent, high-stakes throw that could decide the immediate encounter.