Shloka 30
अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle
तां शस्त्रवृष्टिं बहुधा कर्णश्छित्त्वा शितै: शरै: । अपोवाहास्त्रवीर्येण द्रुमं भड़क्त्वेव मारुत:,जैसे प्रचण्ड वायु वृक्षको तोड़कर गिरा देती है, उसी प्रकार कर्ण अपने तीखे बाणोंसे शत्रुओंकी उस शस्त्रवर्षोको बहुधा छिलन्न-भिन्न करके अपने अस्त्रबलसे दूर हटा दिया इति श्रीमहाभारते कर्णपर्वणि प्रथमे युद्धदिवसे त्रिंशो5ध्याय:
tāṁ śastravṛṣṭiṁ bahudhā karṇaś chittvā śitaiḥ śaraiḥ | apovāhāstravīryeṇa drumaṁ bhaṅktveva mārutaḥ ||
तां शस्त्रवृष्टिं बहुधा कर्णश्छित्त्वा शितैः शरैः । अपोवाहास्त्रवीर्येण द्रुमं भङ्क्त्वेव मारुतः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the battlefield ethic of the epic, survival and protection of one’s side depend on disciplined skill (śaurya guided by training). The verse frames power not as mere aggression but as the capacity to neutralize harm efficiently—turning an overwhelming attack into something ineffective through mastery of weapons.
An enemy unleashes a dense ‘rain’ of weapons. Karṇa counters by slicing that barrage apart with sharp arrows and, through the force of his astras, drives it away—compared to a fierce wind that breaks a tree and throws it down.