Shloka 5

कर्णवधार्थं धनञ्जयस्य प्रतिज्ञा — Arjuna’s resolve for Karṇa’s defeat

Devanagari script

विगाहा[ तद्‌ रथानीकं॑ कड्कपत्रै: शिलाशितै: । आससाद ततः पार्थ: सुशर्माणं वरायुधम्‌

Transliteration

vigāhya tad rathānīkaṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | āsasāda tataḥ pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṃ varāyudham ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Nachdem Arjuna, der Sohn der Kuntī, in die dichte Masse der Wagenkämpfer eingedrungen war, schlug er mit scharfen, am Stein geschliffenen und befiederten Pfeilen zu und rückte dann auf Suśarmā vor, den Träger erlesener Waffen.

Word by Word

• विगाह्य: having entered/plunged into
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-गाह्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रथ-अनीकम्: the chariot-division/host of charioteers
• रथ-अनीकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कङ्क-पत्रैः: with heron-feathered (arrows)
• कङ्क-पत्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कङ्क + पत्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शिला-आशितैः: stone-whetted/sharpened (ones)
• शिला-आशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिला + आशित
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• आससाद: reached/approached
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-तस्)
• Form: true

• पार्थः: Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुशर्माणम्: Susharman
• सुशर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुशर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वर-आयुधम्: bearing excellent weapons
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + आयुध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Pārtha, son of Kuntī)
• Suśarmā
• rathānīka (chariot-host/formation)
• kaṅkapatra arrows (heron-feathered arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores purposeful courage guided by kṣatriya-dharma: even amid violent conflict, the warrior’s action is to be disciplined, directed, and aligned with duty rather than uncontrolled aggression.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Arjuna breaking into the enemy chariot-formation, striking with sharp feathered arrows, and then advancing directly to confront Suśarmā, a prominent opposing warrior-king.