Shloka 108

कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्‌ स्थिते महाराज रुद्रे विधृतकार्मुके

Transliteration

tasmin sthite mahārāja rudre vidhṛtakārmuke

Translation

أيها الملك العظيم، حين وقف على تلك الهيئة—ورودرا (Rudra) قابضٌ على قوسه مُتهيّئًا—بلغ الموقف لحظةً فاصلةً مهيبة، تشهد حضور القدرة الإلهية وثِقَل حربٍ تُقام على سنن الدارما.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (situation/place)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्थिते: when (it was) situated/when (he/it) stood
• स्थिते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (क्त)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• रुद्रे: in/when Rudra
• रुद्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विधृतकार्मुके: with bow held/when (he) had taken up the bow
• विधृतकार्मुके: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधृतकार्मुक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

पितामह उवाच

Characters & Entities

• पितामह (Bhīṣma, implied by speaker tag)
• महाराज (the king being addressed)
• रुद्र (Rudra/Śiva)
• कार्मुक (bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how decisive moments in dharmic conflict are framed not only by human intention but also by the presence of higher, awe-inspiring forces; readiness (a bow held poised) symbolizes disciplined power that must be aligned with righteous purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma addresses a king and describes a tense moment: someone remains firmly positioned, and Rudra (Śiva) is depicted with bow in hand, suggesting an imminent action or turning point under a divine, formidable presence.