Shloka 35
कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke
कर्णाभ्यां शिरसोड्ड्रेभ्यो लोमवर्मभ्य एव च | रथध्वजेभ्यश्व शरा निष्पेतुर्ब्रह्यवादिन:
karṇābhyāṁ śiraso ḍḍrebhyo lomavarmabhya eva ca | rathadhvajebhyaśvaśarā niṣpetur brahmavādinaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：箭矢仿佛从耳、从首、从肢体、从体毛与甲胄之中迸发；甚至从战车、旌旗与战马之上也喷涌而出——那位诵谈圣典之人所放出的飞矢，竟如此凶猛而不息。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of dharma in wartime: even those identified as brahmavādins (learned, Veda-speaking men) can become instruments of immense violence. It invites reflection on how learning and spiritual identity do not automatically prevent destructive action when one is swept into adharma-tinged conflict.
Sañjaya describes an overwhelming volley of arrows, using hyperbolic imagery—arrows seem to fly from bodies, armour, chariots, banners, and horses—conveying the terrifying intensity of the battle and the extraordinary martial display of the combatants.