Shloka 87

Devanagari script

एवं ब्रुवन्‌ प्रस्खलिता श्वसूतो विचाल्यमानो<र्जुनबाणपातै: । मर्माभिघाताच्छिथिल: क्रियासु पुन: पुनर्धर्ममसौ जगह

Transliteration

evaṁ bruvan praskhalitaḥ śvasūtaḥ vicālyamāno 'rjunabāṇapātaiḥ | marmābhighātāc chithilaḥ kriyāsu punaḥ punaḥ dharmam asau jagarha ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: As he spoke thus, Karṇa—his charioteer and horses stumbling—was shaken again and again by the volleys of Arjuna’s arrows. Struck in vital points and growing slack in action, he repeatedly began to revile dharma itself, in the anguish of the moment.

Word by Word

• {'evaṁ': 'thus, in this manner', 'bruvan': 'speaking (present participle of √brū)', 'praskhalitaḥ': 'stumbling, slipping, faltering', 'śvasūtaḥ': 'the charioteer (sūta)

• here, Karṇa’s charioteer', 'vicālyamānaḥ': 'being shaken, made to reel', 'arjuna-bāṇa-pātaiḥ': 'by the fall/volleys of Arjuna’s arrows', 'marma': 'vital spot, vulnerable point', 'abhighāta': 'blow, strike, impact', 'chithilaḥ': 'loosened, weakened, slackened', 'kriyāsu': 'in actions, in performance of deeds', 'punaḥ punaḥ': 'again and again, repeatedly', 'dharma': 'righteous order, duty, moral law', 'jagarha': 'reviled, censured, denounced (perfect of √garh)', 'asau': 'that man, he (here: Karṇa)'}

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• कर्ण (Karṇa)
• अर्जुन (Arjuna)
• श्व (horses)
• सूत (charioteer)
• बाण (arrows)
• धर्म (Dharma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extreme suffering and defeat can distort moral perception: when overwhelmed by pain and helplessness, even a great warrior may lash out at dharma itself. It implicitly contrasts steadfastness in dharma with the human tendency to blame moral order when fortune turns.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Karṇa being battered by Arjuna’s arrow-showers. His chariot-team and charioteer falter; struck at vital points, Karṇa’s ability to act weakens, and in frustration he repeatedly denounces dharma.