Shloka 13

Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)

Devanagari script

अथ प्रतीपकर्तरिं प्रवीरं परवीरहा

Transliteration

atha pratīpakartariṁ pravīraṁ paravīrahā

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the mighty hero—slayer of enemy-champions—advanced against the one who stood as an adversary, intent on countering him.

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• प्रतीपकर्तरिम्: the one who acts against (the foe); adversary-doer
• प्रतीपकर्तरिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतीपकर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रवीरम्: a foremost hero
• प्रवीरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवीर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परवीरहा: slayer of enemy heroes
• परवीरहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परवीरहन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of facing opposition head-on: a true hero is characterized by readiness to confront an adversary and by the capacity to subdue threats in battle, reflecting the martial code of duty and courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya briefly signals a shift in the battle scene: a prominent warrior, described as a destroyer of enemy champions, moves against an opposing combatant—setting up the next action in the combat sequence.