Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

सो5तिविद्धों महाराज पाण्डवेन यशस्विना । सृक्किणी लेलिहन्‌ वीर: क्रोधरक्तान्तलोचन:,महाराज! यशस्वी पाण्डुपुत्रके द्वारा अत्यन्त घायल होकर वीर कर्ण क्रोधसे लाल आँखें करके अपने दोनों जबड़ोंको चाटने लगा

Transliteration

so 'tividdho mahārāja pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā | sṛkkīṇī lelihan vīraḥ krodha-raktānta-locanaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, grievously pierced by the illustrious Pāṇḍava, the warrior Karṇa—his eyes reddened at the corners with anger—began to lick his lips, a fierce sign of wounded pride and rising wrath amid the brutal ethics of battlefield retaliation.

Word by Word

सःhe (that one)

अतिविद्धःpierced severely / grievously wounded

महाराजO great king

पाण्डवेनby the Pandava

यशस्विनाby the renowned (one)

सृक्किणीthe two corners of the mouth / jaws

लेलिहन्licking

वीरःthe hero/warrior

क्रोधरक्तान्तलोचनःwhose eyes had red corners due to anger

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Karṇa

a Pāṇḍava (son of Pāṇḍu)

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 how injury in war can inflame anger and wounded honor, reminding readers that unchecked wrath intensifies violence and clouds judgment—an ethical warning embedded within the depiction of kṣatriya conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa has been severely struck by a Pāṇḍava; in pain and fury, Karṇa’s eyes redden and he licks his lips, signaling a surge of rage and readiness to retaliate.