Shloka 353
Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)
जीवितान्तकरं घोरं व्यसृजत्त्वरयान्वित: । तत्पश्चात् प्रहार करनेवाले योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ कृतवर्माने उसके ऊपर समरांगणमें बड़ी उतावलीके साथ एक भयंकर प्राणान्तकारी बाण छोड़ा
sañjaya uvāca | jīvitāntakaraṃ ghoraṃ vyasṛjat tvarayānvitaḥ | tatpaścāt prahāra-karṇevāle yoddhāoṃ meṃ śreṣṭha kṛtavarmāne tasya upari samarāṅgaṇe baṛī utāvalīke sātha eka bhayaṅkara prāṇāntakārī bāṇa choṛā |
सञ्जय उवाच—ततः स त्वरयान्वितो जीवितान्तकरं घोरं शरं व्यसृजत्। ततः परं प्रहारकुशलानां योद्धानां श्रेष्ठः कृतवर्मा समराङ्गणे महावेगेन तस्मै भयानकं प्राणान्तकरं बाणं प्रेषयामास।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim ethical tension of kṣatriya warfare: valor and skill are praised, yet the action described is explicitly life-ending, reminding the listener that battlefield excellence operates within a tragic economy of death and urgency.
Sanjaya reports a rapid escalation in combat: a dreadful, fatal weapon is released, and then Kṛtavarmā—renowned for effective striking—swiftly shoots a terrifying, deadly arrow at his opponent on the battlefield.