Shloka 53

Devanagari script

रथचक्रं च कर्णस्य बभञठ्ज स महाबल: । भग्नचक्रे रथेडतिष्ठदकम्प: शैलराडिव,इतना ही नहीं, महाबली भीमने कर्णके रथका एक पहिया भी तोड़ डाला तो भी कर्ण टूटे पहियेवाले उस रथपर गिरिराजके समान अविचलभावसे खड़ा रहा

Transliteration

rathacakraṃ ca karṇasya babhañja sa mahābalaḥ | bhagnacakre rathe tiṣṭhad akampaḥ śailarāḍ iva ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Der überaus mächtige Bhīma zerschmetterte eines von Karṇas Wagenrädern. Doch selbst mit gebrochenem Rad stand Karṇa fest auf seinem Streitwagen—unerschüttert, wie ein König der Berge.

Word by Word

रथचक्रम्the chariot-wheel

चand

कर्णस्यof Karna

बभञ्जbroke

सःhe

महाबलःmighty/very strong

भग्नचक्रेon (a chariot) with a broken wheel

रथेon the chariot

अतिष्ठत्stood

अकम्पःunshaken

शैलराट्the king of mountains

इवlike/as

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma

Karṇa

ratha (chariot)

rathacakra (chariot-wheel)

śailarāṭ (king of mountains, simile)

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?

In the midst of violence and uncertainty, the verse foregrounds inner steadiness (akampa) as a defining mark of heroic discipline: even when circumstances collapse (a broken wheel), one’s resolve and composure can remain firm.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the battle, Bhīma strikes Karṇa’s chariot and breaks a wheel. Despite this sudden disadvantage, Karṇa does not panic or falter; he remains standing on the chariot, compared to an immovable mountain.