Mahabharata 7.154.5 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 154, Shloka 5
घटोत्कच-कर्णयुद्धम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Karna Combat and the Release of Śakti
पार्थेनैकेन निहता: सिंहेनेवेतरे मृगा: । “राधानन्दन! देखो, जैसे सिंह दूसरे वन्य पशुओंका संहार कर डालता है, उसी प्रकार एकमात्र कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनद्वारा मारे गये ये भूमण्डलके श्रेष्ठ भूपाल युद्धभूमिमें पड़े हैं ।।
pārthenekena nihatāḥ siṁhenevetare mṛgāḥ | rādhānandana! dekho, yathā siṁhaḥ anyān vanyapaśūn saṁharati, tathā ekamātreṇa kuntīkumarārjunena hatā ime bhūmaṇḍalasya śreṣṭhā bhūpālā yuddhabhūmau patitāḥ ||
సంజయుడు పలికెను—పార్థుడు (అర్జునుడు) ఒక్కడే వారిని సంహరించెను; సింహం ఇతర మృగాలను పడగొట్టినట్లు. ఓ రాధానందనా, చూడు—కుంతీపుత్ర అర్జునుని బాణాఘాతాలతో భూమండలంలోని శ్రేష్ఠ రాజులు యుద్ధభూమిలో చెల్లాచెదురుగా పడి ఉన్నారు।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the overwhelming force of a single righteous warrior in battle and, ethically, the stark cost of war: even the 'foremost kings' become as vulnerable as prey when adharma-driven conflict reaches its climax. The lion-simile magnifies Arjuna’s prowess while implicitly lamenting the devastation of kṣatriya society.
Sanjaya reports to Karna that Arjuna alone has cut down many eminent rulers; their bodies lie scattered on the battlefield. Addressing Karna as 'Rādhānandana,' he urges him to witness Arjuna’s lion-like slaughter of opposing warriors.
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