Shloka 28

Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation

Devanagari script

सर्वास्त्रज्ञान्‌ महेष्वासान्‌ सर्वानेव महाबलान्‌ । अनिवर्तिनो महाभागानजय्यान्‌ सत्यविक्रमान्‌

Transliteration

sarvāstrajñān maheṣvāsān sarvān eva mahābalān | anivartino mahābhāgān ajayyān satyavikramān ||

Translation

Śalya sprach: „Sie alle sind kundig in jeder Waffe, große Bogenschützen und Männer von ungeheurer Kraft—im Kampf weichen sie nicht zurück, begünstigt und doch furchterregend, unbezwingbar und standhaft in wahrer Tapferkeit.“

Word by Word

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अस्त्र-ज्ञान्: knowers of weapons
• अस्त्र-ज्ञान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्त्रज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महा-इष्वासान्: great bowmen
• महा-इष्वासान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• महा-बलान्: very strong
• महा-बलान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अनिवर्तिनः: not turning back (unyielding)
• अनिवर्तिनः: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिवर्तिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महा-भागान्: highly fortunate/noble
• महा-भागान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अजय्यान्: unconquerable
• अजय्यान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजय्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सत्य-विक्रमान्: of true/proven valor
• सत्य-विक्रमान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not belittle worthy opponents: ethical warfare requires clear-eyed assessment, humility, and respect for proven virtue and skill; arrogance (avajñā) clouds judgment and invites defeat.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Karṇa Parva, Śalya addresses Karṇa, countering his disdain for the Pāṇḍavas by listing their qualities—complete weapon-mastery, archery, strength, steadfastness, and invincibility—thereby warning him against reckless overconfidence.