Shloka 36

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

वाराहकर्णनाराचै्नलीकैर्निशितै: शरै: । वत्सदन्तैविपादैश्न क्षुरप्रैश्चटकामुखै:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

vārāhakarṇanārācair nālīkair niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

vatsadantair vipādaiś ca kṣurapraiś ca caṭakāmukhaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the Pāñcāla warriors, bringing forward their forces of chariots, elephants, and horsemen, surged upon Karṇa from every side. Intent on killing him, they hemmed him in and began to strike him with volleys of arrows—boar-ear shafts, nārācas, nālīkas, razor-edged darts, vatsadantas, vipādas, kṣurapras, caṭakāmukhas, and other fierce weapons—turning the battle into a relentless test of resolve and martial duty.

Word by Word

• वाराहकर्ण: with boar-ear–shaped arrows (varāhakarṇa missiles)
• वाराहकर्ण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराहकर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नाराचैः: with nārāca arrows (iron-pointed shafts)
• नाराचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• नालीकैः: with nālīka arrows
• नालीकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नालीक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• निशितैः: with sharpened
• निशितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वत्सदन्तैः: with vatsa-danta arrows (calf-tooth–like)
• वत्सदन्तैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्सदन्त
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विपाठैः: with vipāṭha missiles/arrows
• विपाठैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपाठ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• क्षुरप्रैः: with kṣurapra arrows (razor-headed)
• क्षुरप्रैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• चटकामुखैः: with caṭakāmukha arrows (sparrow-beak–shaped)
• चटकामुखैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: चटकामुख
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Pāñcāla warriors
• chariots
• elephants
• horsemen
• arrows (vārāhakarṇa, nārāca, nālīka, vatsadanta, vipāda, kṣurapra, caṭakāmukha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma: warriors are bound to confront danger and opposition without retreat. Ethically, it highlights how duty in war can demand steadfastness even amid overwhelming violence, while also reminding the reader that martial excellence and resolve are continually tested by collective effort and strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Pāñcāla forces attacking Karṇa from all sides with combined arms—chariots, elephants, and cavalry—then showering him with many specialized arrow types, attempting to encircle and kill him in the thick of battle.