Shloka 38

कर्णवधार्थं धनञ्जयस्य प्रतिज्ञा — Arjuna’s resolve for Karṇa’s defeat

Devanagari script

प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञां श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथि:

Transliteration

pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then, regaining consciousness, Kṛṣṇa the charioteer—he of the white horses—returned to awareness and steadied himself amid the turmoil of battle. That moment revealed resilience and composure in crisis, virtues befitting one who guides others in war.

Word by Word

• प्रतिलभ्य: having regained/obtained back
• प्रतिलभ्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिलभ् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थः)

• संज्ञाम्: consciousness; awareness
• संज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्वेताश्वः: Śvetāśva (the white-horsed one / named Śvetāśva)
• श्वेताश्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेताश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृष्णसारथिः: Kṛṣṇa's charioteer
• कृष्णसारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णसारथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛṣṇa (as sārathi/charioteer)
• white horses (śvetāśvāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in violent and disorienting circumstances, a leader or guide must recover steadiness quickly; regaining clarity (saṃjñā) and composure is presented as a dharmic strength that enables right action and protection of others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa, identified by the epithet ‘white-horsed’ and as the charioteer, regains consciousness after a moment of impairment or shock, indicating a return to control and readiness to continue guiding the chariot in battle.