Shloka 12
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
स तेन राज्ञातिरथेन विद्धो विगाहमानो ध्वजिनीं कुरूणाम् | शत्रुंतपं पञ्यभिराशु विद्धा ततो<स्य सूतं दशभिर्जघान
sa tena rājñātirathena viddho vigāhamāno dhvajinīṃ kurūṇām | śatruntapaṃ pañcabhir āśu viddhā tato 'sya sūtaṃ daśabhir jaghāna |
อรชุนขณะฝ่ากองทัพกุรุ ถูกศรของพระราชาผู้เป็นอธิรถีคือศัตรุมตปะยิงถูก แม้บาดเจ็บก็ยังรีบยิงศัตรุมตปะด้วยศรห้าดอก แล้วซ้ำสารถีของเขาด้วยศรสิบดอก ส่งไปสู่แดนพระยม
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark battlefield form: even when wounded, a warrior must maintain composure and respond decisively to an aggressor. It also reflects the epic’s emphasis on steadfastness (dhairya) and effectiveness (kauśala) under pressure.
Arjuna, moving through the Kaurava ranks, is hit by a king described as an atiratha. Arjuna immediately counters by piercing Śatruntapa with five arrows and then kills the opponent’s charioteer with ten arrows, intensifying the rout within the enemy host.