Shloka 36
द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः
Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction
कर्णने शिनिषौत्र सात्यकिको विपाठ, कर्णी, नाराच, वत्सदन्त, क्षुर तथा सैकड़ों बाणोंसे क्षत-विक्षत कर दिया ।। तथैव युद्ध्यमानो5पि वृष्णीनां प्रवरो युधि । अभ्यवर्षच्छरै: कर्ण तद् युद्धमभवत् समम्
tathaiva yuddhyamāno 'pi vṛṣṇīnāṃ pravaro yudhi | abhyavarṣac charaiḥ karṇaṃ tad yuddham abhavat samam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—तथैव युद्ध्यमानोऽपि वृष्णीनां प्रवरो युधि । अभ्यवर्षच्छरैः कर्णं तद् युद्धमभवत् समम् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of steadfast courage and measured prowess: even amid intense violence, a warrior is portrayed as maintaining resolve and matching force with force, resulting in a contest described as ‘equal’ rather than chaotic or one-sided.
Sañjaya reports that Sātyaki, the leading fighter among the Vṛṣṇis, showers Karṇa with arrows while continuing to engage him directly; the encounter between the two becomes a balanced duel, neither gaining decisive advantage in that moment.