Shloka 20
ततो रिपुघ्नं समथत्त कर्ण: सुसंचितं सर्पमुखं ज्वलन्तम् । रौद्रें शरं संनतमुग्रधौत॑ पार्थार्थमत्यर्थचिराभिगुप्तम्
tato ripughnaṃ samathat karṇaḥ susaṃcitaṃ sarpamukhaṃ jvalantam | raudraṃ śaraṃ saṃnatam ugradhautaṃ pārthārtham atyarthacirābhiguptam ||
تب کرن نے دشمن کُش، خوب سنبھال کر تیار کیا ہوا، شعلہ زن اور سانپ-مکھ وہ رَود्र بाण کمان پر چڑھایا—جو احتیاط سے جڑا ہوا، تیز دھار کیا گیا تھا اور پار्थ (ارجن) کو مارنے کے لیے مدتِ دراز سے نہایت راز میں محفوظ رکھا گیا تھا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how sustained resentment and secret, long-nurtured intent can culminate in decisive violence. It invites reflection on dharma in conflict: preparation and prowess are morally colored by the purpose they serve—whether guided by duty and restraint or by personal enmity and vengeance.
Sañjaya describes Karṇa, in the midst of battle, setting a specially prepared, fearsome ‘serpent-faced’ arrow on his bow. This shaft has been kept for a long time specifically to strike Pārtha (Arjuna), signaling Karṇa’s focused attempt to bring down his chief rival.