Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

वृकोदरसमो युद्धे वृतः कैकेययोधिभि:

Transliteration

vṛkodarasamo yuddhe vṛtaḥ kaikeyayodhibhiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Mitten im dichtesten Kampfgetümmel wurde ein Krieger, Vṛkodara (Bhīma) ebenbürtig, von den Kämpfern aus Kaikeya umringt—ein Zeichen dafür, dass selbst die Mächtigsten geprüft werden, wenn viele zugleich herandrängen, und dass Mut und Pflicht gemäß dem Dharma sich unter erdrückenden Chancen erweisen.

Word by Word

• वृकोदरसमः: equal to Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदरसमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृकोदर-सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वृतः: surrounded/encircled
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (वरणे)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कैकेययोधिभिः: by the Kaikeya warriors
• कैकेययोधिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेय-योधि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• Kaikeya warriors

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: true valor is shown not merely in strength but in steadiness when outnumbered, where duty and resolve are tested amid danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment in which a fighter comparable to Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is encircled by Kaikeya warriors, indicating a concentrated assault and a tense turning point in the combat.