Shloka 45

कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वनगराकारान्‌ रथांश्वैव सुकल्पितान्‌ । विनीतैर्जवनैर्युक्तानास्थितान्‌ युद्धदुर्मदै:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | gandharvanagarākārān rathāṁś caiva sukalpitān | vinītair javanair yuktān āsthitān yuddha-durmadān ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Dhananjaya (Arjuna), showering arrows upon the foe, shattered into pieces those well-constructed chariots—shaped like the wondrous city of the Gandharvas—drawn by disciplined, swift horses and mounted by warriors intoxicated with the arrogance of battle. In the same onslaught he also struck down the ornamented horsemen and the foot-soldiers.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वनगराकारान्: having the form of a Gandharva-city (illusory city)
• गन्धर्वनगराकारान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्वनगराकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सुकल्पितान्: well-constructed / well-arranged
• सुकल्पितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-कल्पित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विनीतैः: by well-trained (disciplined)
• विनीतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• जवनैः: horses (swift ones)
• जवनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जवन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• युक्तान्: yoked / harnessed
• युक्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आस्थितान्: mounted/occupied (ridden)
• आस्थितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• युद्धदुर्मदैः: by those maddened with battle-fury
• युद्धदुर्मदैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध-दुर्मद
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• Gandharvas
• chariots (ratha)
• horses (javana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical warning against yuddha-durmada—battle-born arrogance. Splendor, numbers, and pride do not protect one in adharma-driven conflict; disciplined prowess and steadfast purpose can overturn even impressive military displays.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s battlefield action: he rains arrows, breaks apart well-equipped chariots drawn by trained swift horses and ridden by war-proud fighters, and he also fells decorated cavalry and infantry.