Shloka 29
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
हत्वा कर्णसुतं भीमस्तावकान् पुनरार्दयत् । कृपहार्दिक्ययोश्कछित्त्वा चापौ तावप्यथार्दयत्
hatvā karṇasutaṃ bhīmas tāvakān punar ārdayat | kṛpahārdikyayoś chittvā cāpau tāv apy athārdayat ||
Sañjaya nói: Sau khi giết con trai của Karṇa, Bhīma lại dồn ép quân sĩ của bệ hạ. Rồi chàng chém gãy cung của Kṛpa và Hārdikya, cũng xua đuổi họ phải lùi bước.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh logic of kṣatriya warfare: once battle is joined, duty to one’s side and the drive to secure advantage can lead to relentless escalation. It invites reflection on dharma under extreme conditions—how valor and obligation operate amid suffering, and how victory often comes through disabling an opponent’s means (here, cutting bows) rather than only through killing.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma has killed Karṇa’s son (Vṛṣasena) and then continues to assault the Kaurava forces. He further cuts the bows of Kṛpa and Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman), thereby neutralizing their immediate fighting capacity and driving them back.