Shloka 3
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
तस्मिन् प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे तुमुले शोणितोदके । संशप्तकेषु शूरेषु किंचिच्छिष्टेषु भारत
tasmin pravṛtte saṅgrāme tumule śoṇitodake | saṁśaptakeṣu śūreṣu kiṁcicchiṣṭeṣu bhārata |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Nang magsimula ang kakila-kilabot na labanan—umuugong sa matinding ingay, at ang dugo’y umaagos na parang tubig—at nang kakaunti na lamang ang natitirang mga mandirigmang Saṁśaptaka na may panata, O Bhārata, si Dhṛṣṭadyumna, kasama ang lahat ng mga hari, ay sumalakay kay Karṇa; at ang iba pang mga dakilang mandirigmang-karwahe ng mga Pāṇḍava ay sumuporta rin sa kanya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how vows and martial duty drive warriors to the brink, and how, amid the moral darkness of bloodshed, leadership and collective resolve focus on confronting a decisive adversary. It implicitly invites reflection on the human cost of war even when fought under kṣatriya codes.
As the battle turns extremely fierce and most of the Saṁśaptaka fighters have fallen, Dhṛṣṭadyumna—supported by allied kings and other Pāṇḍava great chariot-warriors—moves to attack Karṇa, concentrating forces against him.