Shloka 4

Devanagari script

ततो द्वैरथमानीय फाल्गुनं शक्रदत्तया । जघान न वृष: कस्मात्‌ तन्‍्ममाचक्ष्व संजय,संजय! इस प्रकार अर्जुनको द्वैरथयुद्धमें लाकर धर्मात्मा कर्णने इन्द्रकी दी हुई शक्तिसे उन्हें क्यों नहीं मार डाला? यह मुझे बताओ

Transliteration

tato dvairatham ānīya phālgunaṁ śakradattayā | jaghāna na vṛṣaḥ kasmāt tan mamācakṣva sañjaya ||

Translation

Als er darauf Phālguna (Arjuna) in einen unmittelbaren Wagen-gegen-Wagen-Zweikampf zog, warum erschlug Vṛṣa (Karna)—obwohl er seinem eigenen Dharma treu war—ihn nicht mit der Waffenmacht, die Śakra (Indra) ihm verliehen hatte? Sage es mir, Sañjaya.

Word by Word

ततःthen/thereupon

द्वैरथम्chariot-duel (single combat on chariots)

आनीयhaving brought (having led)

फाल्गुनम्Phalguna (Arjuna)

शक्रदत्तयाwith (the weapon) given by Shakra (Indra)

जघानkilled/struck down

नnot

वृषःthe bull among men (Karna)

कस्मात्why/from what reason

तत्that (matter)

ममto me/of me

आचक्ष्वtell/declare

संजयO Sanjaya

Speaker

श्रीवायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyudeva

Sañjaya

Phālguna (Arjuna)

Vṛṣa (Karna)

Śakra (Indra)

Śakra-dattā śakti (Indra’s bestowed power/weapon)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical inquiry within warfare: even when victory seems attainable through extraordinary means, a warrior’s action may be constrained by dharma (codes of combat), vows, strategic timing, or the larger workings of destiny. It invites reflection on restraint and responsibility in the use of overwhelming power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyudeva asks Sañjaya to explain why Karna, after engaging Arjuna in a direct chariot duel, did not kill him using the special power/weapon said to be granted by Indra. The question highlights a pivotal moment of missed or withheld lethal opportunity.