Shloka 23

कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter

Devanagari script

त्वं शल्यभूत: शत्रूणामविषहा: पराक्रमे

Transliteration

tvaṃ śalyabhūtaḥ śatrūṇām aviṣahāḥ parākrame

Translation

Sañjaya said: “In battle you become like a spear-thorn to the enemies—one whose might they cannot endure.”

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Prathama, Eka

• शल्यभूतः: having become a thorn/affliction
• शल्यभूतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शल्यभूत
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Eka

• शत्रूणाम्: of the enemies / for the enemies
• शत्रूणाम्: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Pum, Shashthi, Bahu

• अविषहाः: unendurable / irresistible
• अविषहाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविषह
• Form: Pum, Prathama, Bahu

• पराक्रमे: in valor / in prowess
• पराक्रमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम
• Form: Pum, Saptami, Eka

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• enemies (śatravaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line highlights the ideal of kṣatriya valor: steadfast courage and effective strength in battle, framed as a force so formidable that opponents cannot withstand it—an ethical praise of martial excellence within the war context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a warrior’s impact on the battlefield, portraying him as a painful, piercing obstacle to the opposing side—someone whose prowess makes him unbearable to the enemy ranks.