Shloka 28
तस्यास्त्रमस्त्रेण निहत्य सो5थ जघान संख्ये रथनागपत्तीन् | अमृष्यमाणश्न महेन्द्रकर्मा महारणे भार्गवास्त्रप्रतापात्,उस महामनस्वी वीरने अपने धनुषको जिसकी प्रत्यंचा सुदृढ़ थी, झुकाकर समुद्रके समान गम्भीर गर्जना करनेवाले भार्गवास्त्रको प्रकट किया और अर्जुनके महेन्द्रास्त्रसे प्रकट हुए बाणसमूहोंके टुकड़े-टुकड़े करके अपने अस्त्रसे उनके अस्त्रको दबाकर युद्धस्थलमें रथों, हाथियों और पैदलसैनिकोंका संहार कर डाला। अमर्षशील कर्ण उस महासमरमें भार्गवास्त्रके प्रतापसे देवराज इन्द्रके समान पराक्रम प्रकट कर रहा था
tasya astram astreṇa nihatya so 'tha jaghāna saṅkhye ratha-nāga-pattīn | amṛṣyamāṇaś ca mahendra-karmā mahāraṇe bhārgavāstra-pratāpāt ||
Sañjaya said: Having struck down his opponent’s weapon with his own, he then, in the thick of battle, began to fell chariot-warriors, elephants, and foot-soldiers. Unable to endure resistance and fired by wrath, Karṇa—empowered by the might of the Bhārgava weapon—displayed deeds like those of Indra in that great combat. The passage underscores how mastery of astras and unchecked martial fury can magnify destruction on the battlefield, raising the ethical tension between prowess and restraint.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of martial excellence: when astric power is joined with amṛṣyā (intolerance/irascibility), it accelerates slaughter. It implicitly invites reflection on restraint (dama) and responsibility in the use of extraordinary power, even when one is capable of Indra-like feats.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa countering an enemy weapon with his own (astra defeating astra) and then cutting down multiple battlefield units—chariots, elephants, and infantry—while empowered by the Bhārgavāstra, appearing Indra-like in prowess amid the great fight.