Shloka 17

Devanagari script

मध्ये सेनामुखे कर्णो5प्यवातिष्ठत दंशित: । चित्रवर्माड्भद: स्रग्वी पालयन्‌ वाहिनीमुखम्‌,कर्ण भी विचित्र कवच, अंगद और हार धारण करके सेनाके मुखभागकी रक्षा करता हुआ व्यूहके मुहानेपर ठीक बीचो-बीचमें खड़ा था

Transliteration

madhye senāmukhe karṇo 'py avātiṣṭhata daṁśitaḥ | citravarmādbhutaḥ sragvī pālayan vāhinīmukham ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: In the very midst of the army’s front, Karṇa too stood firm, fully armed and resolute. Wearing wondrous, variegated armour and a garland, he guarded the mouth of the battle-array, holding the vanguard steady.

Word by Word

मध्येin the middle

सेनामुखेat the front of the army

कर्णःKarna

अपिalso

अवातिष्ठतstood / took position

दंशितःarmed, equipped (with armor/weapons)

चित्रवर्माhaving variegated armor

अङ्गदःwearing armlets / armlet-bearer

स्रग्वीgarlanded

पालयन्protecting, guarding

वाहिनीमुखम्the front of the army

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

senā (army)

vāhinī (host/army)

varman (armour)

sraj (garland)

vyūha (battle-array/formation)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness and command-responsibility in battle: a leader must hold the front line and protect the formation. It also implicitly frames war as a domain where duty and moral burden coexist—valor is praised, yet it unfolds within a larger ethical tragedy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports Karṇa’s battlefield posture: he stands at the center of the army’s front, fully armed, adorned with striking armour and a garland, guarding the opening/front of the battle-array so the vanguard remains protected and organized.