Shloka 74

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९

Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces

Devanagari script

कृपकर्णादयो वीरा ऋषभाणामिवर्ष भा: । “कृपाचार्य और कर्ण आदि वीर इन पांचालोंको रोकनेके लिये अत्यन्त पराक्रम दिखा रहे हैं। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे साँड़ दूसरे साँड्रोंको दबानेकी चेष्टा करते हैं ।।

Transliteration

kṛpakarṇādayo vīrā ṛṣabhāṇām ivarṣabhāḥ | bhīmāstreṇa sunirbhagnān dhārtarāṣṭrān mahārathān ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “Kṛpa, Karṇa, and the other heroes are showing extraordinary valor to check the Pañcālas—like powerful bulls striving to press down rival bulls. Yet the great chariot-warriors of the Dhārtarāṣṭras have been utterly shattered by Bhīma’s weapon.”

Word by Word

• कृप: Kripa
• कृप: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्ण: Karna
• कर्ण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आदयः: and others (beginning with)
• आदयः: Karta
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Used as an indeclinable meaning 'and others/beginning with'; syntactically qualifies the preceding names.

• वीराः: heroes/warriors
• वीराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ऋषभाणाम्: of bulls
• ऋषभाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव
• Form: Comparative particle

• ऋषभाः: bulls
• ऋषभाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भीमास्त्रेण: by Bhima's weapon
• भीमास्त्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमास्त्र (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सुनिर्भग्नान्: utterly shattered/broken
• सुनिर्भग्नान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-निर्भग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिकम्; √भञ्ज्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: the Dhartarashtras (sons of Dhritarashtra)
• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महारथान्: great chariot-warriors
• महारथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• Karna
• Pañcālas
• Bhīma
• Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
• mahārathas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the epic’s ethical tension in war: even renowned heroes may strive with peak valor, yet outcomes can swiftly overturn due to superior force or circumstance. It underscores the fragility of martial pride and the relentless momentum of violence once dharma has been compromised.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Kṛpa, Karṇa, and other Kaurava champions are fiercely trying to restrain the Pañcālas, compared to bulls subduing rivals; nevertheless, many Kaurava great chariot-warriors have been decisively broken by Bhīma’s assault.