Shloka 216
द्रौणि-पार्षतयोर्युद्धम् | The Duel of Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi) and Dhṛṣṭadyumna (Pārṣata
चिक्षेप भीमसेनाय जीवितान्तकरीमिव । वह महाशक्ति दूसरी कालशक्तिके समान प्रतीत होती थी। महाबली राधापुत्र कर्णने जीवनका अन्त कर देनेवाली उस शक्तिको लेकर ऊपर उठाया और उसे धनुषपर रखकर भीमसेनपर चला दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
cikṣepa bhīmasenāya jīvitāntakarīm iva |
सञ्जय उवाच—स तां महाशक्तिं भीमसेनाय चिक्षेप जीवितान्तकरीमिव। सा द्वितीया कालशक्तिरिव प्रतिभाति स्म। महाबलः राधेयः कर्णः तां जीवितान्तकरीं शक्तिमादायोर्ध्वं समुत्थाप्य धनुषि निवेश्य भीमसेनं प्रति प्राहिणोत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of war: as combat intensifies, warriors resort to increasingly lethal weapons, and the presence of Kāla (Death/Time) becomes palpable. It invites reflection on how duty to one’s faction can collide with compassion, and how violence, once escalated, tends to exceed human control.
Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa, the son of Rādhā, lifts a terrifying śakti weapon—likened to the power of Death—and hurls/discharges it toward Bhīmasena, intending a decisive, life-ending strike.