Shloka 48
कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation
Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows
महाराज! ऐसा कहकर प्रतापी वीर सूतपुत्र कर्णने अपने विजय नामक श्रेष्ठ एवं पुरातन धनुषको लेकर उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ायी; फिर उसे बारंबार हाथमें लेकर सत्यकी शपथ दिलाते हुए समस्त योद्धाओंको रोका। इसके बाद अमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न उस महाबली वीरने भार्गवास्त्रका प्रयोग किया ।। ततो राजन् सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च । कोटिश श्व शरास्तीक्ष्णा निरगच्छन् महामृथे
tato rājan sahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca | koṭiśaś ca śarās tīkṣṇā niragacchan mahāmṛdhe ||
ततो राजन् महायुद्धे सहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च । कोटिशश्च शरास्तीक्ष्णा निरगच्छन् महामृधे ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the terrifying magnitude of warfare: exceptional prowess can rapidly multiply harm. It implicitly urges reflection on the ethical burden of martial power—skill and strength, when driven by hostility, magnify suffering on a vast scale.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, in the thick of the great battle, immense numbers of sharp arrows were being discharged in overwhelming torrents, emphasizing the intensity and scale of the fighting at this moment.