Shloka 30
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
यह देख कर्णने भी अर्जुनपर मेघकी भाँति बहुत-से बाणोंकी झड़ी लगा दी। इसी प्रकार किरीटमाली अर्जुनने भी अपने तीखे सायकोंसे कर्णको ढँक दिया ।।
tayoḥ sutīkṣṇān sṛjatoḥ śaraughān mahāśaraughāstravivardhane raṇe | rathe vilagnāv iva candrasūryau ghanāntareṇānudadarśa lokaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Nang si Karṇa at ang Arjunang may putong ay magpaulan sa isa’t isa ng mga pulutong ng palasong matalim na parang labaha, lumaki ang labanan bilang dakilang tunggalian ng mga sandatang pamukol at siksik na bugso ng palaso. Sa kakila-kilabot na larangang iyon, nakita ng mga tao ang dalawang bayani sa kanilang mga karwahe na nagliliwanag mula sa loob ng nagkakapatong na mga palaso—gaya ng araw at buwan na kumikislap sa pagitan ng mga ulap.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of martial glory: the heroes appear radiant and almost celestial, yet their brilliance is seen through—and partly obscured by—the storm of weapons they themselves create. It invites reflection on how valor and violence can be aesthetically exalted while remaining ethically weighty.
Karṇa and Arjuna exchange intense volleys of sharp arrows. The battlefield becomes a dense cloud of missiles, and spectators perceive the two warriors shining from within that arrow-storm like the sun and moon visible through clouds.