Shloka 25

Devanagari script

रथानन्ये नरश्रेष्ठं परिवद्रु: समनन्‍्ततः । भारत! कुछ लोग घोड़ोंपर और कुछ लोग हाथियोंपर चढ़े थे। दूसरे लोग रथोंपर आरूढ़ हो सब ओरसे नरश्रेष्ठ दुर्योधनको घेरे हुए थे ।। २४ $ ।। आत्तशस्त्राश्न सुहृदो रक्षणार्थ महीपते:

Transliteration

rathān anye naraśreṣṭhaṃ parivadruḥ samantataḥ | āttaśastrāś ca suhṛdo rakṣaṇārthaṃ mahīpateḥ ||

Translation

Karna said: “Others, O best of men, moved about in chariots all around. And the king’s well-wishers, weapons in hand, stood ready for his protection.”

Word by Word

रथान्chariots

अन्येothers

नरश्रेष्ठम्the best of men (Duryodhana)

परिवद्रुःran around / surrounded by running around

समन्ततःon all sides

आत्तhaving taken up / wielding

शस्त्राःweapons

सुहृदःfriends / well-wishers

रक्षणार्थम्for the sake of protection

महीपतेO king / lord of the earth

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karna

mahīpati (the king, contextually Duryodhana)

ratha (chariot)

śastra (weapons)

suhṛd (well-wishers/supporters)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rāja-dharma and kṣatriya conduct in war: loyal allies must remain vigilant and armed to protect their king. It frames protection of the ruler as a collective duty, emphasizing solidarity and readiness rather than individual glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna describes a battlefield moment where chariot-warriors maneuver all around, while the king’s supporters stand armed to guard him. The imagery is of a protective ring forming around the ruler amid active movement and combat.