Shloka 53
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
स कर्ण शरजालेन च्छादयामास पाण्डव:
sa karṇa-śarajālena cchādayāmāsa pāṇḍavaḥ
सञ्जय उवाच—अथ पाण्डवः कर्णं शरजालेन समन्ताच्छादयामास, रणसङ्घट्टे तं पराभवाय निनाय; एष धर्मयुद्धस्य तीव्रतां दर्शयति—यत्र धैर्यं कौशलं च संयमेन प्रयोजनयुक्तेन च समं भवेत्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, power and prowess are meaningful only when directed toward a purposeful end; the verse highlights disciplined martial action—overwhelming force used as a tactical means within the larger frame of dharma-yuddha.
Sañjaya reports that a Pāṇḍava warrior unleashes such a dense volley of arrows that Karṇa is ‘covered’ as if by a net, indicating a momentary tactical dominance and the ferocity of the exchange.