Shloka 32

कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement

Devanagari script

संरब्धौ क्रोधताम्राक्षौ प्रेक्ष्य कर्णवृकोदरौ । संत्रसस्‍्ता: समकम्पन्त त्वदीयानां महारथा:,रोषावेशमें भरकर क्रोधसे लाल आँखें किये कर्ण और भीमसेनको देखकर आपके महारथी भयभीत हो काँपने लगे

Transliteration

saṃrabdhau krodha-tāmrākṣau prekṣya karṇa-vṛkodarau | saṃtrasastāḥ sama-kampanta tvadīyānāṃ mahā-rathāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing Karṇa and Vṛkodara (Bhīma) inflamed with fury, their eyes reddened by wrath, your great chariot-warriors were seized with fear and began to tremble.

Word by Word

• संरब्धौ: enraged, agitated
• संरब्धौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरब्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• क्रोध-ताम्र-अक्षौ: having eyes reddened by anger
• क्रोध-ताम्र-अक्षौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोधताम्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen, on seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष्
• Form: Absolutive (ktvā/lyap), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• कर्ण-वृकोदरौ: Karna and Vrikodara (Bhima)
• कर्ण-वृकोदरौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णवृकोदर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• संत्रसस्ताः: terrified, frightened
• संत्रसस्ताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संत्रस्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• समकम्पन्त: trembled, shook
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-कम्प्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• त्वदीयानाम्: of yours, belonging to you
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वदीय
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (agreeing with महारथानाम्), Genitive, Plural

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Karna
• Vrikodara (Bhima)
• Kaurava maharathas (your great warriors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the contagious power of uncontrolled anger in war: when wrath is visibly embodied by mighty warriors, it destabilizes others through fear. Ethically, it hints that krodha (anger) is not merely personal emotion but a force that amplifies violence and erodes steadiness (dhairya) on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa and Bhīma, both blazing with rage, confront the scene; upon seeing them, the Kaurava-side elite chariot-warriors become frightened and begin to tremble, indicating the intensity of the impending clash and the psychological shock it produces.