Shloka 463
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
गरुडस्थेव पततो जिघृक्षो: पन्नगोत्तमम् । नरेश्वर! रथसे उछलकर दौड़ते हुए महामना अश्वत्थामाका वेग बहुत बड़े सर्पको पकड़नेके लिये झपटे हुए गरुड़के समान प्रतीत हुआ
garuḍastheva patato jighṛkṣoḥ pannagottamam | nareśvara rathastha uccalya dhāvataḥ mahāmanā aśvatthāmanaḥ vegaḥ bahuḥ sarpaṃ grahītuṃ jhaṭpataḥ garuḍa iva pratibhātaḥ |
三阇耶说道：“大王啊，当那位心志高远的阿湿婆他摩跃上战车、疾驰向前时，他宛如迦楼罗自天穹俯冲而下，一心要擒住群蛇之最。其冲锋之速与猎取之意，显出战阵无情的势头——在此处，勇力与意志往往压过克制。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention (jighṛkṣā—desire to seize) and momentum (vega—force) shape action in war: when the mind fixes on capture and victory, one can become like a predator, and ethical restraint is easily overshadowed by martial drive.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāman suddenly surging forward on his chariot with great speed. His movement is compared to Garuḍa swooping to snatch a powerful serpent, emphasizing swift, decisive aggression in the ongoing battle.