Shloka 33

Devanagari script

घटोत्कचं यदा कर्णो विशेषयति नो नूप

Transliteration

ghaṭotkacaṃ yadā karṇo viśeṣayati no nūpa

Translation

Sañjaya said: “When Karṇa singles out Ghaṭotkaca for special attention—” (the narration turns to Karṇa’s deliberate focus on the formidable rākṣasa-warrior, highlighting the tactical and moral pressure of choosing whom to confront amid the chaos of battle).

Word by Word

• घटोत्कचम्: Ghaṭotkaca (as object)
• घटोत्कचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: घटोत्कच
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यदा: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

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

• विशेषयति: distinguishes / singles out / targets
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशेषय्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नः: of us / our
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Plural

• नूप: O Nūpa (vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नूप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a key ethical tension of war: a warrior’s deliberate choice of target is not merely tactical but carries moral weight, because it shapes the scale of harm and the course of fate for many on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, reporting to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, introduces a moment where Karṇa begins to focus specifically on Ghaṭotkaca, signaling an impending decisive engagement against a dangerous Pāṇḍava ally.