Shloka 376
कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा
Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying
प्राविशद् धरणीं राजन् वल्मीकमिव पन्नग: । राजन! जैसे साँप बाँबीमें घुस जाता है, उसी प्रकार वह बाण कर्णके कवच और शरीरको छेदकर धरतीमें समा गया
prāviśad dharaṇīṁ rājan valmīkam iva pannagaḥ |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O Hari, ang palaso, matapos butasin ang baluti at katawan ni Karṇa, ay bumaon sa lupa—gaya ng ahas na sumusuot sa punso.” Ipinakikita ng larawang ito ang walang-humpay at tila itinadhanang agos ng digmaan: maging ang bantog na pananggalang ng dakilang mandirigma ay maaaring mapasok kapag bumaling ang takbo ng labanan, at ipinapaalala ang kahinaan ng kapangyarihang nakatali sa katawan sa gitna ng pagpatay na pinaiiral ng adharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to stress impermanence in war: even renowned strength and protection can fail. It points to the larger Mahābhārata ethic that bodily power is fragile, and outcomes in a dharma-crisis are driven by accumulated karma and the moral trajectory of the conflict.
Sañjaya describes an arrow that, after piercing armor and flesh (contextually, Karṇa’s), continues onward and disappears into the ground—like a snake entering an anthill—highlighting the force and finality of the strike amid the Kurukṣetra battle.