Shloka 42

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९

Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces

Devanagari script

एष त्वां प्रेक्षेते कर्ण: सकटाक्ष॑ विशाम्पते । उत्तमं जवमास्थाय ध्रुवमेष्यति संयुगे

Transliteration

eṣa tvāṁ prekṣete karṇaḥ sakaṭākṣa viśāmpate | uttamaṁ javam āsthāya dhruvam eṣyati saṁyuge ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „O Herr der Menschen, Karṇa beobachtet dich jetzt mit einem schrägen, eindringlichen Blick. Mit seiner besten Schnelligkeit und Entschlossenheit wird er im Kampf gewiss geradewegs auf dich zukommen.“

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Accusative, Singular

• प्रेक्षते: looks at
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सकटाक्षम्: with a sidelong glance
• सकटाक्षम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकटाक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• जवम्: speed
• जवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आस्थाय: having resorted to / taking up
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• ध्रुवम्: surely, certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव

• एष्यति: will come
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ
• Form: Future (Lrt), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna
• viśāmpati (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the inevitability of direct confrontation in dharma-yuddha: a warrior’s intent becomes visible through demeanor (the sidelong, assessing glance) and is fulfilled through decisive action. It underscores resolve and the moral gravity of facing an opponent openly in battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to the king that Karṇa is fixing his attention on the addressed ruler with a pointed, sidelong look and is about to charge forward with great speed, indicating an imminent, focused attack in the ongoing battle.