अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
शरवर्ष तु तत् कर्ण: पार्थिव: समुदीरितम् । शरवर्षेण महता समन्ताद् व्यकिरत् प्रभो,प्रभो! राजाओंद्वारा की हुई उस बाण-वर्षाको कर्णने बाणोंकी बड़ी भारी वृष्टि करके सब ओर बिखेर दिया
śaravarṣaṃ tu tat karṇaḥ pārthivaḥ samudīritam | śaravarṣeṇa mahatā samantād vyakirat prabho ||
सञ्जय उवाच—पार्थिवैः समुदीरितं तत् शरवर्षं कर्णः प्रत्यगृह्णात्; स तु प्रभो महता शरवर्षेण समन्ताद् व्यकिरत्, तद् बाणवृष्टिं सर्वतो विखण्डयामास।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how, in war, force tends to be answered by greater force; within the epic’s frame this is tied to kṣātra-dharma—warriors feel compelled to respond decisively to threats—yet it also implicitly points to the tragic momentum of violence once battle is joined.
A formidable barrage of arrows is launched by opposing kings; Karṇa counters by releasing an even mightier arrow-storm, dispersing the incoming attack and dominating the space around him.