Shloka 21

अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa

Devanagari script

अब मुझे इस जीवनसे तथा राज्यसे क्‍या प्रयोजन है? जब कि आज युद्धमें शोभा पानेवाले कर्णने मुझे इस प्रकार क्षत-विक्षत कर डाला है

Transliteration

adya me jīvitena rājyena ca kiṁ prayojanam? yato ’dya yuddhe śobhāṁ prāptavān karṇaḥ mām evaṁ kṣata-vikṣataṁ kṛtavān.

Translation

যুধিষ্ঠিৰে ক’লে—“এতিয়া মোৰ এই জীৱন আৰু ৰাজ্যৰ কি প্ৰয়োজন? কিয়নো আজি যুদ্ধভূমিৰ শোভা কৰ্ণে মোক এনেদৰে আঘাত কৰি ক্ষত-বিক্ষত কৰি পেলাইছে।”

Word by Word

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative/Genitive, Singular

• अनेन: by this / with this
• अनेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• जीवितेन: life
• जीवितेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राज्येन: kingdom, sovereignty
• राज्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• प्रयोजनम्: use, purpose
• प्रयोजनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• अस्ति: is
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शोभाम्: splendour, glory
• शोभाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्नुवन्: attaining, winning
• प्राप्नुवन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• क्षत-विक्षतम्: wounded and mangled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत-विक्षत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चकार: made, rendered
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Karṇa
• battlefield (yuddha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension between worldly aims (life and kingship) and the crushing reality of war: when glory-seeking violence brings profound suffering, even legitimate goals can feel empty, exposing the fragility of power and the psychological cost of kṣatriya duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Karṇa Parva battle, Yudhiṣṭhira laments after being severely wounded by Karṇa. He questions the value of continuing to live or to rule, since Karṇa has inflicted grievous injuries while pursuing renown in combat.