Shloka 17

अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च

Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances

Devanagari script

परिवत्रुर्महाराज पञज्चालानां रथा दश | पुनरेव च तान्‌ कर्णो जघानाशु पतत्त्रिभि:,महाराज! फिर दस पांचाल महारथियोंने आकर कर्णको घेर लिया, परंतु कर्णने अपने बाणोंद्वारा पुन: उन सबको तत्काल मार डाला

Transliteration

parivatrur mahārāja pañcālānāṃ rathā daśa | punar eva ca tān karṇo jaghānāśu patattribhiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O King, ten chariot-warriors of the Pāñcālas surrounded Karṇa again. Yet Karṇa swiftly struck them down once more with his winged arrows.” The passage underscores the relentless momentum of battle, where repeated assaults meet decisive counterforce, and valor is measured by steadiness amid encirclement.

Word by Word

• परिवव्रुः: they surrounded/encircled
• परिवव्रुः: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √वृ (वृणोति/वृणुते) अथवा √वृ (वृणोति) — ‘आवरणे/वरणे’
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), 3, plural, परस्मैपद

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• पाञ्चालानाम्: of the Panchalas
• पाञ्चालानाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाञ्चाल
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• रथाः: chariots / chariot-warriors
• रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या)
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural (agreeing with रथाः)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

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

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• जघान: slew/struck down
• जघान: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (हनति) — ‘वधे’
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु

• पतत्त्रिभिः: with arrows (lit. ‘winged ones’)
• पतत्त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतत्त्रि
• Form: masculine, instrumental, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Karṇa
• Pāñcāla warriors
• chariots
• arrows

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights martial steadfastness: even when surrounded and attacked repeatedly, a warrior’s resolve and skill determine the outcome. Ethically, it reflects the harsh kṣatriya world where duty in war is enacted through decisive, often lethal action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ten Pāñcāla chariot-warriors come again and encircle Karṇa. Karṇa responds immediately, shooting swift ‘winged’ arrows and killing them.