Shloka 38

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 20 — Yudhiṣṭhira–Duryodhana Encounter and Escalation of Arms

Devanagari script

अश्चवारोहा: समासाद्य त्वरिता: पत्तिभिहता:

Transliteration

aśvavārohāḥ samāsādya tvaritāḥ pattibhihatāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Die Reiterkrieger, die zum Angriff heranstürmten, wurden von den Fußsoldaten rasch niedergestreckt. Der Vers betont: Im Chaos der Schlacht bieten weder Schnelligkeit noch Rang sicheren Schutz, wenn disziplinierte Infanterie der Kavallerie auf kurze Distanz begegnet.

Word by Word

• अश्वारोहाः: horsemen, mounted warriors
• अश्वारोहाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वारोह (अश्व + आरोह)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समासाद्य: having approached / having come up to
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√सद्
• Form: Absolutive (त्वा/ल्यप्), Parasmaipada (usage)

• त्वरिताः: swift / hastened
• त्वरिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पत्तिभिः: by foot-soldiers / infantrymen
• पत्तिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्ति
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हताः: slain / struck down
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (हत)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• अश्ववारोहाः (cavalry/horsemen)
• पत्तयः (infantry/foot-soldiers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Martial advantage is unstable: speed, status, or mounted strength can be overturned when opponents act with resolve and coordination. The verse implicitly points to the ethical gravity of war—human lives are cut down quickly, reminding the listener of the harsh consequences set in motion by conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, cavalrymen rush forward to engage, but as they close in they are struck down by infantry. It depicts a moment where foot-soldiers successfully repel or kill mounted attackers at close range.