Shloka 68

कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation

Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows

Devanagari script

ततो धनंजयो द्रष्ट राजानं बाणपीडितम्‌ । रथेन प्रययौ क्षिप्रं संग्रामात्‌ केशवाज्ञया

Transliteration

tato dhanañjayo dṛṣṭvā rājānaṁ bāṇapīḍitam | rathena prayayau kṣipraṁ saṅgrāmāt keśavājñayā ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Da sah Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) den König (Yudhiṣṭhira), von Pfeilen gequält, und lenkte auf Keśavas (Kṛṣṇas) Geheiß den Wagen eilends vom Schlachtfeld fort.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• धनंजयः: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Tumun (infinitive)

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बाणपीडितम्: afflicted by arrows
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाणपीडित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथेन: by/with the chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रययौ: went forth, proceeded
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• संग्रामात्: from the battle
• संग्रामात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• केशवाज्ञया: by Keshava's command
• केशवाज्ञया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव-आज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Rājā (Yudhiṣṭhira)
• Keśava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Ratha (chariot)
• Bāṇa (arrows)
• Saṅgrāma (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in war, right action includes disciplined responsiveness to wise guidance and concern for the rightful leader’s welfare; Arjuna follows Kṛṣṇa’s directive and attends to the wounded king, reflecting dharma through obedience, prudence, and care.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, noticing Yudhiṣṭhira suffering from arrow-wounds, quickly drives his chariot away from the immediate battle area to go and see him, doing so on Kṛṣṇa’s instruction.