Shloka 15
यदा दिव्यं धनुरादाय पार्थ: प्रतापयन् पृतनां सव्यसाची । त्वां मर्दयिष्यन्निशितै: पृषत्कै- सस््तदा पश्चात् तप्स्यसे सूतपुत्र
yadā divyaṃ dhanur ādāya pārthaḥ pratāpayan pṛtanāṃ savyasācī | tvāṃ mardayiṣyann iśitaiḥ pṛṣatkaiḥ sa tadā paścāt tapsyase sūtaputra ||
यदा दिव्यं धनुरादाय पार्थः प्रतापयन् पृतनां सव्यसाची । त्वां मर्दयिष्यन्निशितैः पृषत्कैस्तदा पश्चात्तप्स्यसे सूतपुत्र ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse functions as a moral warning: arrogance and overconfidence in war lead to later suffering. When true prowess (Arjuna’s disciplined, divinely-supported skill) is unleashed, the one who underestimated it (Karna) is foretold to experience painful regret and consequence.
Sanjaya foretells to Karna that Arjuna will take up his divine bow, overpower the opposing host, and aim to crush Karna with sharp arrows. The statement anticipates Karna’s later anguish—both from defeat and from the realization of Arjuna’s superior force in that moment of battle.