Shloka 43

धर्मरहस्योपदेशः

Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury

Devanagari script

ततः सायकभिभन्नाड़: पाण्डव: क्रोधमूर्च्छित: । संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्ष: सूतपुत्रवधेप्सया

Transliteration

tataḥ sāyakabhibhinnāḍaḥ pāṇḍavaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | saṃrambhāmarṣatāmrākṣaḥ sūtaputravadhepsayā ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then the Pāṇḍava, his body pierced through by arrows, was overcome by a swoon of wrath. His eyes, reddened by violent agitation and wounded pride, fixed on one aim—the slaying of the charioteer’s son (Karna).

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सायकैः: with arrows
• सायकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अभिभिन्नाङ्गः: whose limbs were pierced all over
• अभिभिन्नाङ्गः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिभिन्नाङ्ग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवः: the Pandava (Bhima)
• पाण्डवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्रोधमूर्च्छितः: fainting/overpowered with anger
• क्रोधमूर्च्छितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रोधमूर्च्छित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्षः: whose eyes were red from fury and indignation
• संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरम्भामर्षताम्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सूतपुत्रवधेप्सया: with the desire to slay the charioteer’s son (Karna)
• सूतपुत्रवधेप्सया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतपुत्रवधेप्सा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pāṇḍava (Bhīmasena, by context)
• Karna (Sūtaputra)
• arrows (sāyaka)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how unchecked wrath and wounded pride (amarṣa) can eclipse discernment in war, narrowing one’s mind to a single destructive aim. It implicitly warns that even a righteous cause can be morally endangered when action is driven primarily by rage rather than disciplined duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being badly wounded by Karṇa’s arrows, Bhīmasena is overwhelmed by anger; his eyes redden with fury and resentment, and he becomes intent on killing Karṇa (called ‘Sūtaputra’).