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Shloka 12

अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च

Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances

सुवर्णपुड्खै्नाराचै: परकायविदारणै: । चेदिकानवधीद्‌ वीर: शतशो5थ सहस्रश:,वीर कर्णने शत्रुओंके शरीरको विदीर्ण कर देनेवाले सुवर्णमय पंखयुक्त नाराचोंद्वारा सैकड़ों और हजारों चेदिदेशीय वीरोंका वध कर डाला

sañjaya uvāca | suvarṇapuḍkhair nārācaiḥ parakāyavidāraṇaiḥ | cedikān avadhīd vīraḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ ||

Sañjaya nói: Với những mũi tên nārāca gắn lông vàng—những mũi tên xé toạc thân thể quân thù—vị anh hùng Karṇa đã giết các chiến binh Cedi hàng trăm, thậm chí hàng nghìn.

सुवर्णपुड्खैःwith golden-feathered (arrows)
सुवर्णपुड्खैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसुवर्णपुड्ख
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
नाराचैःwith iron arrows (narācas)
नाराचैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootनाराच
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
परकायविदारणैःwith (those) that tear others' bodies
परकायविदारणैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootपरकायविदारण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
चेदिकान्the Cedi warriors/men
चेदिकान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootचेदिक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अवधीत्killed
अवधीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवध्
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
वीरःthe hero
वीरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शतशःby hundreds; in hundreds
शतशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशतशस्
अथand then; and also
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
सहस्रशःby thousands; in thousands
सहस्रशः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहस्रशस्

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
K
Karṇa
C
Cedi (Cedikāḥ)
N
nārāca arrows (golden-fletched)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the terrifying efficiency of martial skill in war and invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma: even when fighting is duty, the mass killing it entails remains morally weighty and tragic.

Sanjaya reports that Karṇa, using golden-fletched nārāca arrows that pierce and tear bodies, cuts down large numbers of Cedi fighters—hundreds and thousands—showing the battle’s escalating ferocity.