Shloka 5

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच नकुलं सूतनन्दन: । सदृशं राजपुत्रस्य धन्विनश्न विशेषत:

Transliteration

evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca nakulaṁ sūtanandanaḥ | sadṛśaṁ rājaputrasya dhanvinaś ca viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Thus addressed, Karṇa, the charioteer’s son, replied to Nakula: “Act in a manner befitting a prince—above all, a bowman. Strike at me as a true warrior should. We shall witness your manly prowess. First display your valor on the battlefield; only then should you speak at length about it.”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सूतनन्दनः: the charioteer’s son (Karna)
• सूतनन्दनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत-नन्दन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सदृशम्: befitting / suitable
• सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजपुत्रस्य: of a prince
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• धन्विनः: of an archer
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विशेषतः: especially
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nakula
• Karṇa (Sūtanandana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts speech with action: true kṣatriya honor is proven by disciplined performance in battle, not by boastful talk. Prowess and conduct should precede self-praise.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Nakula speaks to him, Karṇa answers sharply, challenging Nakula to fight in a manner worthy of a princely archer and insisting that valor be demonstrated on the battlefield before making grand claims.