Shloka 19

Devanagari script

कथं जीवति दुर्धर्षे त्वयि राधेय फाल्गुन: । अनस्तंगत आदित्ये हन्यात्‌ सैन्धवककं नृपम्‌,'राधानन्दन! तुम-जैसे दुर्धर्ष वीरके जीते-जी अर्जुन सिंधुराजको सूर्यास्त होनेसे पहले ही कैसे मार सकेंगे?

Transliteration

kathaṁ jīvati durdharṣe tvayi rādhēya phālgunaḥ | anastaṅgata āditye hanyāt saindhavakaṁ nṛpam ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O son of Rādhā (Karṇa), while you—the unconquerable warrior—are still alive, how could Phālguna (Arjuna) possibly slay the king of Sindhu (Jayadratha) before the sun has set?”

Word by Word

कथम्how?

जीवतिlives / is alive

दुर्धर्षेin/while (you) the unassailable one (are present)

त्वयिin you / when you (are there)

राधेयO son of Radha (Karna)

फाल्गुनःPhalguna (Arjuna)

अनस्तंगतेwhen (the sun is) not yet set

आदित्येwhen the sun (is ...)

हन्यात्could/should slay

सैन्धवकम्the Saindhava (Jayadratha)

नृपम्king

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa (Rādhēya)

Arjuna (Phālguna)

Jayadratha (Saindhavaka, king of Sindhu)

Āditya (the Sun)

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 the moral and psychological weight of a time-bound vow in war: confidence in a champion’s protection (Karṇa) is set against the urgency of righteous resolve (Arjuna’s pledge to kill Jayadratha before sunset). It underscores how dharma in battle is tested by deadlines, reputation, and the perceived invincibility of key warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a pointed question addressed to Karṇa: since Karṇa is alive and considered nearly unbeatable, how could Arjuna manage to kill Jayadratha before the sun sets? The line reflects the Kaurava side’s reliance on Karṇa as the main obstacle to Arjuna’s vow being fulfilled within the day.