Shloka 54
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
ते शरा हेमविकृता गाण्डीवप्रेषिता भृशम् | द्रौणिमासाद्य विविशुर्वल्मीकमिव पन्नगा:
te śarā hemavikṛtā gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bhṛśam | drauṇim āsādya viviśur valmīkam iva pannagāḥ ||
三阇耶说道：那些以黄金铸成、从甘狄婆神弓以猛烈之势射出的箭矢，飞至德罗那之子阿湿婆他摩身前，钻入其躯体——如群蛇滑入蚁丘一般。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily functions as vivid narration rather than explicit moral instruction, yet it implicitly highlights the grave immediacy of warfare: skill and intention manifest as unavoidable harm. The simile (serpents entering an anthill) conveys inevitability and precision—once set in motion, violent action reaches its target with little room for reversal.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s gold-adorned arrows, released from the Gāṇḍīva with great force, striking and penetrating Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi). The comparison to serpents entering an anthill emphasizes how swiftly and surely the arrows find entry into the opponent’s body.