Shloka 11

Devanagari script

संजय उवाच एतच्चिकीर्षितं ज्ञात्वा कर्णस्य मधुसूदन: । नियोजयामास तदा द्वैरथे राक्षसेश्वरम्‌,संजयने कहा--राजन! कर्ण भी उस शक्तिसे अर्जुनका ही वध करना चाहता था। उसके इस अभिप्रायको जानकर परम बुद्धिमान्‌ मधुसूदन भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णने उस अमोघ शक्तिको नष्ट करनेके लिये ही कर्णके साथ द्वैरथ युद्धमें उस समय महापराक्रमी राक्षसराज घटोत्कचको लगाया। महाराज! यह सब आपकी कुमन्त्रणाका ही फल है

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca etac cikīrṣitaṃ jñātvā karṇasya madhusūdanaḥ | niyojayāmāsa tadā dvairathe rākṣaseśvaram ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Knowing this intention of Karṇa, Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa) then deployed the lord of the Rākṣasas in that chariot-duel, so that Karṇa’s unfailing weapon might be spent and rendered ineffective.

Word by Word

संजयःSanjaya

उवाचsaid

एतत्this

चिकीर्षितम्intended act / intention (what was wished to be done)

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

कर्णस्यof Karna

मधुसूदनःMadhusudana (Krishna)

नियोजयामासappointed / set to (a task)

तदाthen

द्वैरथेin the chariot-duel

राक्षसेश्वरम्the lord of the Rakshasas

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa)

Rākṣaseśvara (Ghaṭotkaca)

Dvairatha (chariot duel)

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 prudent, dharma-aligned strategy: Kṛṣṇa anticipates Karṇa’s lethal intent and arranges circumstances so the most dangerous weapon is neutralized, emphasizing responsibility in counsel and action during war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya explains that Kṛṣṇa, understanding Karṇa’s plan, sends the Rākṣasa-king Ghaṭotkaca into a chariot duel with Karṇa, aiming to force the expenditure of Karṇa’s unfailing weapon and thereby safeguard Arjuna.