Shloka 19

अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira

Chapter 45

Devanagari script

महाद्विपस्कन्धगत: पिड्जाक्ष: प्रियदर्शन:

Transliteration

mahādvipaskandhagataḥ piḍjākṣaḥ priyadarśanaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Stationed upon the back of a mighty elephant, the one with distinctive eyes—pleasing to behold—appeared with striking martial presence amid the battle narrative.

Word by Word

• महाद्विपस्कन्धगतः: gone/positioned on the shoulder (trunk) of a great elephant
• महाद्विपस्कन्धगतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाद्विप-स्कन्ध-गत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पिङ्गाक्षः: having tawny/brown eyes
• पिङ्गाक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गाक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रियदर्शनः: pleasant to behold; of pleasing appearance
• प्रियदर्शनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रियदर्शन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• elephant (dvipa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how, in war, outward splendor—handsome appearance and impressive mounts—can mask the deeper ethical gravity of violence; it invites reflection on judging by appearances amid dharmic conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield sight: a notable figure is positioned atop a great elephant’s back, described with distinctive eyes and a pleasing appearance, as part of the ongoing combat narration in Karṇa Parva.