Shloka 11

Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī

Fortune) and the Proposed Display before the Exiled Pāṇḍavas (कर्णवचनम् / श्रीप्रदर्शन-प्रस्तावः

Devanagari script

दृष्टीविषै: सप्तशीर्षैगुप्तं भोगिभिरद्धुतै: । रक्षोभिश्व पिशाचैश्व रौद्रैर्भूतगणैस्तथा

Transliteration

dṛṣṭiviṣaiḥ saptaśīrṣair guptaṃ bhogibhir adbhutaiḥ | rakṣobhiś ca piśācaiś ca raudrair bhūtaganais tathā ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “It was guarded by wondrous serpents with seven hoods whose very gaze was venomous; and it was also protected by fierce rākṣasas and piśācas, as well as by dreadful hosts of spirits.”

Word by Word

• दृष्टिविषैः: by (those) whose poison is in the glance
• दृष्टिविषैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टिविष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सप्तशीर्षैः: by seven-headed (ones)
• सप्तशीर्षैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तशीर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गुप्तम्: guarded/protected
• गुप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• भोगिभिः: by serpents
• भोगिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अद्भुतैः: by wondrous/terrible (ones)
• अद्भुतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• रक्षोभिः: by rakshasas/demons
• रक्षोभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पिशाचैः: by pisachas/ghouls
• पिशाचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• रौद्रैः: by fierce/terrible (ones)
• रौद्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भूतगणैः: by hosts of spirits
• भूतगणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतगण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• तथा: likewise/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• seven-hooded serpents (saptaśīrṣa bhogis)
• rākṣasas
• piśācas
• bhūta-gaṇas (hosts of spirits)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how formidable obstacles—fearsome guardians and terrifying forces—can surround a goal or sacred place, implying that true resolve and righteous purpose (dharma) must be steady even when confronted by dread and danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a location or object as heavily guarded: seven-hooded, venom-gazed serpents stand watch, along with rākṣasas, piśācas, and fierce hosts of spirits, emphasizing the peril of approaching it.