Shloka 8
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
घोररूपो महारीद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारण: । निर्भिन्द्यां येन रुष्टो*हमपि मेरुं महागिरिम्,यह अत्यन्त भयंकर घोर बाण कवच तथा हडियोंको भी चीर देनेवाला है। मैं कुपित होनेपर इस बाणके द्वारा महान् पर्वत मेरुको भी विदीर्ण कर सकता हूँ
ghorarūpo mahārīdras tanutrāsthividāraṇaḥ | nirbhindyāṁ yena ruṣṭo 'ham api meruṁ mahāgirim ||
ఈ బాణం భయంకర రూపమైంది—అతి ప్రబలమైనది; కవచాన్నీ ఎముకలనూ చీల్చివేయగలదు. నేను కోపోద్రిక్తుడనైతే, ఇదే శరంతో మహాపర్వతమైన మేరు నైనా చీల్చగలను.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how wrath amplifies destructive intent: Karna frames his martial power as limitless when angered, illustrating the ethical danger of pride and rage in war—strength without restraint tends toward excess.
Karna is describing a fearsome weapon at his disposal, boasting that it can pierce armour and bone and that, if provoked, he could use it to cleave even the great mountain Meru—an image meant to convey overwhelming martial potency.