Shloka 1

Chapter 136: Pandava Counter-Encirclement and the Vāyavya-Astra Disruption

Devanagari script

भीस्न्आ तन () अजमना चतुस्त्रिंशर्दाधकशततमो< ध्याय: भीमसेन और कर्णका युद्ध, धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्मुखका वध तथा कर्णका पलायन संजय उवाच सर्वथा विरथ: कर्ण: पुनर्भीमेन निर्जित: । रथमन्यं समास्थाय पुनर्विव्याध पाण्डवम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | sarvathā virathaḥ karṇaḥ punar bhīmena nirjitaḥ | ratham anyaṃ samāsthāya punar vivyādha pāṇḍavam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Karṇa, completely deprived of his chariot, was once again overcome by Bhīma. Mounting another chariot, he returned to the fight and struck the Pāṇḍava again—showing how, in the fury of war, defeat is followed not by reflection but by renewed aggression and persistence.

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सर्वथा: in every way; completely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा

• विरथः: without a chariot; chariotless
• विरथः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• भीमेन: by Bhima
• भीमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• निर्जितः: defeated; conquered
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + जि
• Form: kta (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Passive

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• समास्थाय: having mounted; having taken (his stand on)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + स्था
• Form: ktvā (absolutive/gerund), Active

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• विव्याध: pierced; struck
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + व्यध्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पाण्डवम्: the Pandava (Bhima)
• पाण्डवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Pāṇḍava (Bhīma)
• ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the war-ethic of relentless engagement: even after being rendered chariotless and defeated, Karṇa immediately re-enters combat. It implicitly shows how martial pride and kṣatriya resolve can sustain courage, yet also perpetuate cycles of retaliation rather than restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma has again defeated Karṇa, leaving him without his chariot. Karṇa then mounts another chariot and strikes the Pāṇḍava (Bhīma) again, continuing their duel.