Shloka 77

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०

Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

हत्वा जित्वा च गन्धर्वाश्षित्रसेनमुखान्‌ रणे । कर्ण दुर्योधनं पार्थ: सभार्य सममोक्षयत्‌

Transliteration

hatvā jitvā ca gandharvān citrasenamukhān raṇe | karṇa duryodhanaṁ pārthaḥ sabhāryaḥ samamokṣayat |

Translation

Having slain and routed the Gandharvas—led by Citraratha (Citraseṇa)—in battle, Pārtha (Arjuna) released Karṇa and Duryodhana, along with their wives. The episode upholds a warrior’s dharma: even amid enmity, one preserves honor by rescuing and freeing the vulnerable, refusing to let personal rivalry overrule righteous conduct.

Word by Word

• हत्वा: having slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ (active sense)

• जित्वा: having conquered/defeated
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भावार्थ (active sense)

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

• गन्धर्वान्: Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• चित्रसेनमुखान्: headed by Chitrasena
• चित्रसेनमुखान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रसेनमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कर्ण: O Karna
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थः: Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सभार्यम्: together with (his) wife
• सभार्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सभार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सम्: completely/together (prefix)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग)

• अमोक्षयत्: released/set free
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, सम्

Speaker

काक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna (Pārtha)
• Karna
• Duryodhana
• Gandharvas
• Citraseṇa/Citraratha

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma and ethical restraint: even after defeating opponents, a noble warrior acts with honor—rescuing and releasing rivals rather than exploiting their humiliation, placing righteousness above personal animosity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna defeats the Gandharvas led by Citraseṇa/Citraratha in battle and then frees Duryodhana and Karna, who are in captivity, releasing them along with their wives.