Shloka 11

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा राधेयं त्वरितो<ब्रवीत्‌ । अर्जुन प्रेक्ष्य संयातं जयद्रथवर्ध॑ प्रति,तब राजा दुर्योधनने अर्जुनको जयद्रथको मारनेके लिये उसकी ओर जाते देख तुरंत ही राधापुत्र कर्णसे कहा--

Transliteration

tato duryodhano rājā rādheyaṁ tvarito 'bravīt | arjunaṁ prekṣya saṁyātaṁ jayadrathavardhaṁ prati ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then King Duryodhana, in haste, addressed Rādheya (Karna). Seeing Arjuna advancing toward Jayadratha to slay him, Duryodhana spoke at once to Karna.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

दुर्योधनःDuryodhana

राजाthe king

राधेयम्Radheya (Karna)

त्वरितःhastened, quickly (being in haste)

अब्रवीत्said, spoke

अर्जुनम्Arjuna

प्रेक्ष्यhaving seen

संयातम्come forth, advanced, approaching

जयद्रथवर्ध॑Jayadratha-vardha (as transmitted; likely a proper name/epithet)

प्रतिtowards, against

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Duryodhana

Karna (Radheya)

Arjuna

Jayadratha

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 leadership in war responds to perceived threats: Duryodhana urgently mobilizes Karna upon seeing Arjuna’s advance. Ethically, it frames the tension between personal vows and collective duty—Arjuna’s resolve to reach Jayadratha versus the Kauravas’ obligation to protect an ally—showing how dharma in battle often appears as competing duties rather than a single simple rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana, noticing Arjuna moving forward with intent toward Jayadratha (or those supporting him), quickly speaks to Karna to respond. It is a tactical moment: Arjuna’s advance triggers immediate counter-coordination among the Kaurava leaders.