Shloka 8

कर्णस्य एकाकि-प्रहारः तथा पाण्डव-महारथ-परिवेष्टनम् | Karṇa’s concentrated assault and the Pāṇḍava encirclement

Devanagari script

स तेनाहममर्षेण मित्रार्थे चापि पार्थिवा: । सत्यं व: प्रतिजानामि तद्‌ वाक्यं मे निबोधत,“राजाओ! उससे होनेवाले अमर्षके कारण तथा मित्र दुर्योधनके कार्यकी सिद्धिके लिये मैं आपलोगोंसे सच्ची प्रतिज्ञा करके कहता हूँ, आपलोग मेरी यह बात सुनिये

Transliteration

sa tenāham amarṣeṇa mitrārthe cāpi pārthivāḥ | satyaṃ vaḥ pratijānāmi tad vākyaṃ me nibodhata ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O kings, stirred by that affront and also for the sake of accomplishing my friend Duryodhana’s purpose, I make to you a truthful vow. Listen carefully to my words.”

Word by Word

• {'saḥ': 'he

• that person (referring to the speaker’s resolve/stance)', 'tena': 'by that

• because of that (cause/instrument)', 'aham': 'I', 'amarṣeṇa': 'with intolerance

• from indignation/resentment at an insult', 'mitrārthe': 'for a friend’s sake

• for the purpose of a friend', 'ca api': 'and also', 'pārthivāḥ': 'O kings

• rulers (vocative plural)', 'satyam': 'truthfully

• in truth', 'vaḥ': 'to you (plural)', 'pratijānāmi': 'I vow

• I solemnly promise', 'tad': 'that', 'vākyam': 'statement

• words', 'me': 'my', 'nibodhata': 'understand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• pārthivāḥ (kings/rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how vows and public declarations are often driven by powerful motives—injured honor (amarṣa) and loyalty to an ally (mitrārtha). Ethically, it frames a tension: truthfulness in speech can coexist with morally charged intentions, reminding readers to examine not only whether a vow is true, but also what passions and aims propel it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a warrior’s resolve addressed to assembled rulers: provoked by an affront and intent on securing Duryodhana’s objective, he announces that he will make a truthful pledge and asks the kings to listen to his forthcoming statement.