Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तान्‌ जघान शितैर्बाणै: सूतपुत्रो महारथ: । ते वध्यमाना: समरे चेदिमत्स्या विशाम्पते

Transliteration

tān jaghāna śitair bāṇaiḥ sūtaputro mahārathaḥ | te vadhyamānāḥ samare cedimatsyā viśāmpate ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Der große Streitwagenheld, der Sohn des Sūta (Karna), streckte sie mit scharfen Pfeilen nieder. Und während die Cedi und die Matsya im Kampf niedergemäht wurden, o Herr der Menschen, wurden sie in jenem Gefecht überwältigt.

Word by Word

तान्them

जघानslew/struck down

शितैःsharp

बाणैःwith arrows

सूतपुत्रःthe charioteer’s son (Karna)

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior

तेthey

वध्यमानाःbeing slain/being killed

समरेin battle

चेदीthe Cedis

मत्स्याःthe Matsyas

विशाम्पतेO lord of the people

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karna (Sūtaputra)

Cedi warriors

Matsya warriors

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by viśāmpate)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the relentless momentum of war: prowess and martial skill can rapidly decide outcomes, while entire peoples (Cedi, Matsya) become subject to the consequences of battlefield duty and political allegiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna, fighting as a foremost warrior, showers sharp arrows and cuts down opposing fighters—specifically the Cedi and Matsya contingents—who are being slain amid the clash.