Shloka 8
Karṇa-vadha-pratyaya: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Verification of Karṇa’s Fall (कर्णवध-प्रत्ययः)
क्रुद्धोर्जुनो अभिदुद्राव व्याक्षिपन् गाण्डिवं धनु: । इस प्रकार सेनाओंकी व्यूह-रचना हो जानेपर रणभूमिमें संशप्तकोंकी ओर देखकर क्रोधमें भरे हुए अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार करते हुए उनपर आक्रमण किया ।।
sañjaya uvāca
kruddho 'rjuno 'bhidudrāva vyākṣipan gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ |
atha saṃśaptakāḥ pārtham abhyadhāvan vadhaiṣiṇaḥ ||
क्रुद्धोऽर्जुनोऽभिदुद्राव व्याक्षिपन् गाण्डिवं धनुः । व्यूढेषु सैन्येषु रणभूमौ संशप्तकान् प्रति दृष्ट्वा रोषपूर्णः पार्थो गाण्डीवटङ्कारं कृत्वा तेष्वभ्यपतत् ॥ अथ संशप्तकाः पार्थमभ्यधावन् वधैषिणः ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger and vowed enmity can propel combatants into decisive action, intensifying the ethical stakes of warfare. It implicitly contrasts disciplined duty with passion-driven aggression, reminding readers that in dharma-yuddha the inner state (krodha vs. restraint) shapes the moral weight of action.
After the battle formations are arranged, Arjuna—angered—charges forward while wielding his bow Gāṇḍīva. In response, the Saṃśaptakas, a group bound by a fierce vow and seeking Arjuna’s death, rush to engage him directly.