Санджая
ततः कर्णो महाराज प्रेषयाम् आस सायकान् ॥
सुवर्णपुङ्खाञ् शत्रुघ्नान् खचरान् राक्षसान् प्रति ॥
तद् बाणैर् अर्दितं यूथं रक्षसां पीनवक्षसाम् ॥
सिंहेनेवार्दितं वन्यं गजानाम् आकुलं कुलम् ॥
विधम्य राक्षसान् बाणैः साश्वसूतगजान् विभुः ॥
ददाह भगवान् वह्निर् भूतानीव युगक्षये ॥
स हत्वा राक्षसीं सेनां शुशुभे सूतनन्दनः ॥
पुरेव त्रिपुरं दग्ध्वा दिवि देवो महेश्वरः ॥
tataḥ karṇo mahārāja preṣayām āsa sāyakān ||
suvarṇapuṅkhāñ śatrughnān khacarān rākṣasān prati ||
tad bāṇair arditaṃ yūthaṃ rakṣasāṃ pīnavakṣasām ||
siṃhenevārditaṃ vanyaṃ gajānām ākulaṃ kulam ||
vidhamya rākṣasān bāṇaiḥ sāśvasūtagajān vibhuḥ ||
dadāha bhagavān vahnir bhūtānīva yugakṣaye ||
sa hatvā rākṣasīṃ senāṃ śuśubhe sūtanandanaḥ ||
pureva tripuraṃ dagdhvā divi devo maheśvaraḥ ||
...with force Karna drew, like a raised rainbow. Then Karna, O great king, sent gold-feathered arrows, slayers of foes, at the rakshasas soaring through the sky. That flock, torn by arrows, of the broad-chested rakshasas, like a forest herd of elephants torn by a lion, fallen into confusion. Scattering the rakshasas with arrows, along with their horses, charioteers, and elephants, the lord [Karna] burned them, like the sacred fire [burns] beings at the destruction of the age. He, having destroyed the host of rakshasas, shone, the son of the suta.
dfcf3fd65320 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:49:34 PM UTC
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Karna destroys the phantom host of rakshasas, "as fire consumes beings at the end of the age": a single warrior is likened to the universal flame. It is significant that the illusory army disperses just as a real one would. The verse teaches that illusion, however terrible, cannot withstand steadfast strength; and one who does not yield to induced terror turns phantom hosts to nothing — for true power dispels deception as fire devours dry grass.