Shloka 54
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
नकुलस्त्रिंशता बाणै: शतानीकस्तु सप्तभि: । शिखण्डी दशभिर्वीरो धर्मराज: शतेन तु,तदनन्तर धृष्टद्युम्नने कर्णको दस बाणोंसे बींध डाला। फिर द्रौपदीके पुत्रोंने तिहत्तर, सात्यकिने सात, भीमसेनने चौंसठ, सहदेवने सात, नकुलने तीस, शतानीकने सात, शिखण्डीने दस और वीर धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने सौ बाण कर्णको मारे
sañjaya uvāca |
nakulasttriṃśatā bāṇaiḥ śatānīkastu saptabhiḥ |
śikhaṇḍī daśabhirvīro dharmarājaḥ śatena tu ||
三阇耶说道：那俱罗以三十箭射中迦尔那；萨塔尼迦以七箭；勇武的尸佉ṇḍī以十箭；而法王（坚战）则以百箭加之。此段凸显般度五子一方为遏止迦尔那在战阵中的势头而同心协力——在战争中，个人武勇服从于更大的义务：守护己方的事业与同袍。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: when a formidable opponent threatens the army’s stability, multiple warriors act together, placing collective responsibility above individual display. It also reflects the epic’s ethic that duty in war is carried through coordinated action and steadfast resolve.
Sañjaya reports a moment in the battle where several Pāṇḍava-side fighters—Nakula, Śatānīka, Śikhaṇḍī, and Yudhiṣṭhira—strike the enemy champion (Karṇa, as indicated by the surrounding context) with specified numbers of arrows, describing the intensity and coordination of the assault.