Shloka 22

अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः

Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath

Devanagari script

वयं व्यवसितं पार्थ वज़पाणिमिवोद्यतम्‌ । षड्रथा: प्रतियुध्येम तिष्तेम यदि संहता:

Transliteration

vayaṁ vyavasitaṁ pārtha vajrapāṇim ivodyatam | ṣaḍrathāḥ pratiyudhyema tiṣṭhema yadi saṁhatāḥ ||

Translation

قال كِرِبا: «يا بارثا، إن وقفنا صفًّا واحدًا بعزمٍ لا يلين—كإندرا رافعًا الفَجْرَةَ (الفَجْرَة/الفَجْرَة: الفَجْرَة=الفَجْرَة؟) أي الصاعقة—فإننا نحن الستة، فرسان العربات، نستطيع لقاء العدو في القتال. فلا نَفْتُر؛ فالتماسك وثبات القصد هما قوة الدارما التي تجعل المقاومة ممكنة.»

Word by Word

वयम्we

व्यवसितम्resolved, determined (purpose/resolve)

पार्थO Partha (Arjuna)

वज्रपाणिम्Vajrapāṇi (Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt)

इवlike, as

उद्यम्raised, lifted up

षड्रथाःsix chariot-warriors / six in chariots

प्रतियुध्येमwe should fight against / engage in battle

तिष्ठेमwe should stand / remain

यदिif

संहताःunited, together, in a compact body

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛpa

Pārtha (Arjuna)

Vajrapāṇi (Indra)

Vajra (thunderbolt)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that steadfast resolve (vyavasāya) and unity (saṁhati) are decisive moral and strategic strengths in a righteous struggle; even a smaller force can resist effectively when it stands together with firm purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛpa urges Pārtha (Arjuna) that if their side remains united, the six chariot-warriors can confront the opposing force; he reinforces morale by comparing their determined stance to Indra raising the thunderbolt.