Shloka 36
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
स पार्थमुक्तैरिषुभि: प्रणुन्नो गजो गजेनेव जितस्तरस्वी । विहाय संग्रामशिर: प्रयातो वैकर्तन: पाण्डवबाणतप्त:
sa pārthamuktair iṣubhiḥ praṇunno gajo gajen eva jitas tarasvī | vihāya saṅgrāmaśiraḥ prayāto vaikartanaḥ pāṇḍavabāṇataptaḥ ||
Matinding tinamaan ng mga palasong pinakawalan ni Pārtha, ang makapangyarihang mandirigma—gaya ng elepanteng napasuko ng kapwa elepante—ay iniwan ang unahan ng labanan at umurong. Kaya si Vaikartana (Karna), na tila sinusunog ng mga palaso ng mga Pāṇḍava, ay tumalikod sa sagupaan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that sheer might and reputation do not guarantee victory; when confronted by superior skill and force, even a great warrior may be compelled to retreat. Ethically, it reflects the battlefield reality that prudence and survival can override pride, and that resistance to aggression can check even the strongest opponent.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Karṇa (Vaikartana), struck and driven back by Arjuna’s arrows, leaves the battle’s forefront and withdraws—likened to an elephant defeated by another elephant—indicating Arjuna’s dominance in that exchange.