Shloka 11
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
ततः सुपुड्खैर्निशितै रथश्रेष्ठो रथेषुभि: । अवधीत् पज्चविंशत्या पञज्चालान् पञ्चविंशतिम्,तदनन्तर रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ कर्णने सुन्दर पंखवाले पचीस पैने बाणोंद्वारा पचीस पांचालोंको कालके गालमें भेज दिया
tataḥ supuṅkhair niśitai rathaśreṣṭho ratheṣubhiḥ | avadhīt pañcaviṃśatyā pañcālān pañcaviṃśatim ||
Sañjaya nói: Rồi Karṇa, bậc nhất trong hàng chiến xa, dùng hai mươi lăm mũi tên sắc bén gắn lông đẹp, hạ sát hai mươi lăm chiến binh Pāñcāla, đưa họ vào cõi chết.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic’s stark portrayal of war: extraordinary skill and resolve can coexist with grave ethical cost. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (the warrior’s duty) and the tragic inevitability of death once a righteous order collapses into total conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, fighting from his chariot, releases twenty-five sharp, well-feathered arrows and kills twenty-five Pāñcāla warriors in quick succession, emphasizing Karṇa’s battlefield dominance at this moment.