Shloka 50
जिधघांसुरकेन्दुसमप्र भेण चक्रे विषक्तं रिपुमाततायी । किरीटथधारी अर्जुन अत्यन्त प्रसन्न हो अपने शत्रुको मारनेकी इच्छासे आततायी बन गये थे। उन्होंने चन्द्रमा और सूर्यके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाले उस विजयदायक श्रेष्ठ बाणसे अपने शत्रुको बींध डाला ।।
sañjaya uvāca | jighāṃsur arkendu-samaprabheṇa cakre viṣaktaṃ ripum ātatāyī | kirīṭadhārī arjunaḥ atyanta-prasannaḥ sva-śatroḥ māraṇecchayā ātatāyīva babhūva | sa candrārka-samaprabhaṃ vijayadaṃ śreṣṭha-bāṇaṃ ripau vidhya dadau || tathā vimukto balinārka-tejāḥ prajvālayām āsa diśo nabhaś ca | tato 'rjunas tasya śiro jahāra vṛtrasya vajreṇa yathā mahendraḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Si Arjuna na may diadema, sa matinding galak na hangaring pumatay sa kaaway na nakatindig sa harap niya bilang isang mananalakay, ay bumaril ng isang kataas-taasang palasong nagdadala ng tagumpay, nagniningning tulad ng araw at buwan, at tinuhog ang kaaway. Nang pakawalan ng makapangyarihang Arjuna, ang palasong kasingliwanag ng araw ay nagliyab sa himpapawid at nagliwanag sa lahat ng dako. Pagkaraan, pinutol ni Arjuna ang ulo ni Karṇa mula sa katawan sa pamamagitan ng palasong iyon, gaya ng dakilang Indra na minsang pumutol sa ulo ni Vṛtra sa kanyang vajra (kidlat).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how epic warfare is ethically narrated through dharma-language: the enemy is characterized as an ātatāyī (aggressor), and the act is presented as a duty-bound culmination rather than mere personal hatred. At the same time, the blazing arrow and the severed head emphasize the grave, irreversible cost of war.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna releasing a brilliantly radiant, victory-bringing arrow that illuminates the sky and directions; with it he pierces the foe and then cuts off Karṇa’s head, likening the deed to Indra beheading Vṛtra with the vajra.