Shloka 18
तेषां धनूंषि ध्वजवाजिसूतां- स्तूर्ण पताकाश्न निकृत्य बाणै: । तान् पज्चभि स्त्वभ्यहनत् पृषत्कैः कर्णस्ततः सिंह इवोन्ननाद
teṣāṃ dhanūṃṣi dhvaja-vāji-sūtāṃs tūrṇaṃ patākāś ca nikṛtya bāṇaiḥ | tān pañcabhiḥ stv abhyahanat pṛṣatkaiḥ karṇas tataḥ siṃha ivonnanāda ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Mabilis na pinutol ni Karṇa sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga palaso ang kanilang mga busog, mga watawat, mga kabayo, mga tagapagmaneho ng karwahe, at mga palawit na bandila. Pagkaraan, sa limang matutulis na palaso, tinamaan din niya ang limang mandirigmang iyon at sinugatan sila. Pagkatapos nito, umungal si Karṇa na parang leon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic where skill, speed, and psychological dominance (the lion-like roar) function as instruments of kṣatriya-duty. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of disciplined martial conduct with the harsh reality that war rewards decisive disabling of an opponent’s means—bows, standards, horses, and charioteers—before striking the fighters themselves.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa rapidly disables the opposing side by cutting their bows and key chariot components (banner, horses, charioteer, flags). He then wounds the five warriors with five arrows and roars like a lion, signaling dominance and rallying his side while intimidating the enemy.