Shloka 17

कर्णस्य सेनापत्याभिषेकः | Karṇa’s Consecration as Commander-in-Chief

Devanagari script

चित्रायुथश्चित्रयोधी कृत्वा च कदनं महत्‌

Transliteration

citrāyuthaś citrayodhī kṛtvā ca kadanaṃ mahat

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Citrāyudha, der vielfarbige und furchterregende Krieger, richtete ein großes Gemetzel an—steigerte das Chaos der Schlacht und zeigte, wie Können, an den Krieg gekettet, das Leid auf beiden Seiten vermehrt.

Word by Word

• चित्रायुथः: having a variegated/bright troop (name/epithet)
• चित्रायुथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रायुथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चित्रयोधी: the splendid/variegated fighter (name/epithet)
• चित्रयोधी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रयोधिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कदनम्: slaughter, destruction
• कदनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• चित्रायुथ (Citrāyudha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim ethical reality of war: even admirable martial skill, when exercised in battle, culminates in widespread destruction, reminding the listener that valor and violence can coexist with tragic consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the warrior Citrāyudha is actively fighting and has caused immense carnage on the battlefield, marking an escalation in the intensity of the combat.