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Shloka 16

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तदा । नकुल॑ पज्चभिर्बाणर्जत्रुदेशे समार्पयत्‌,तब वैकर्तन कर्णने दूसरा धनुष लेकर नकुलके गलेकी हँसलीपर पाँच बाण मारे

athānyad dhanur ādāya karṇo vaikartanas tadā | nakulaṁ pañcabhir bāṇair jatrudeśe samārpayat ||

Sañjaya sprach: Da nahm Karṇa, der Sohn des Wagenlenkers (Vaikartana), einen anderen Bogen zur Hand und traf Nakula mit fünf Pfeilen in der Gegend des Schlüsselbeins. So steigerte sich der Kampf, und die Kunst zeigte sich in präzisen, gezielten Treffern.

अथthen
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
अन्यत्another (one)
अन्यत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
धनुःbow
धनुः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आदायhaving taken
आदाय:
TypeVerb
Rootआ + दा
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
कर्णःKarna
कर्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वैकर्तनःson of Vikartana (epithet of Karna)
वैकर्तनः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवैकर्तन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तदाat that time
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
नकुलम्Nakula
नकुलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनकुल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पञ्चभिःwith five
पञ्चभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्च
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
बाणैःwith arrows
बाणैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
जत्रु-देशेin the collarbone region
जत्रु-देशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootजत्रु-देश
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
समार्पयत्he fixed/placed (struck)
समार्पयत्:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + अर्प्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Karna
V
Vaikartana
N
Nakula
B
bow
A
arrows
J
jatrudeśa (collarbone region)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the harsh reality of dharma in wartime: a kṣatriya’s duty is executed through disciplined martial action, yet the precision and intensity of violence reveal the moral strain inherent in righteous war.

Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa switches to another bow and shoots Nakula with five arrows aimed at the collarbone/neck-joint area, demonstrating Karṇa’s continued aggression and technical mastery in the ongoing battle.