Shloka 103
Karṇa-vadha-pratyaya: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Verification of Karṇa’s Fall (कर्णवध-प्रत्ययः)
तस्यैव न: श्रुतो यादृड़निवातकवचै: सह । किरीटधारी अर्जुनके साथ संशप्तकोंका वह संग्राम वैसा ही भयानक था, जैसा कि निवातकवच नामक दानवोंके साथ अर्जुनका युद्ध हमने सुन रखा है
sañjaya uvāca | tasyaiva naḥ śruto yādṛg nivātakavacaiḥ saha | kirīṭadhāriṇā arjunena saha saṃsaptakānāṃ saḥ saṅgrāmo yathā tathā bhayānaka āsīt |
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Ang labanan ng mga Saṁsaptaka laban kay Arjuna, ang may suot na diyadema, ay kasindak-sindak gaya ng tanyag na sagupaan na ating narinig—ang digmaan ni Arjuna laban sa mga demonyong Nivātakavaca. Sa pagbanggit sa naunang pambihirang pakikibaka, ipinahihiwatig ko ang bagsik ng kasalukuyang salpukan at ang walang-pag-urong na loob ng Saṁsaptaka, na itinutulak ng kanilang panata.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how war narratives use remembered exemplars to measure present conduct: the Saṁsaptakas’ vow-driven persistence and Arjuna’s steadfast prowess are framed through a prior, legendary benchmark (the Nivātakavaca battle), highlighting resolve, duty, and the grave cost of martial commitment.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the Saṁsaptakas’ engagement with Arjuna was extremely fearsome, comparable to the renowned battle Arjuna once fought against the Nivātakavaca demons—thereby emphasizing the intensity of the current encounter.