Shloka 36

Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī

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

Devanagari script

सा तदा विमला शक्ति: क्षिप्ता तेन महात्मना । बिभेद शिखर घोर श्वेतस्य तरसा गिरे:,उन महात्माने उस समय अपनी चमचमाती हुई शक्ति चलायी और उसके द्वारा श्वेत गिरिके भयानक शिखरको बड़े वेगसे विदीर्ण कर डाला

Transliteration

sā tadā vimalā śaktiḥ kṣiptā tena mahātmanā | bibheda śikharaṃ ghoraṃ śvetasya tarasā gireḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then that radiant, stainless spear-weapon, hurled by the great-souled one, with tremendous force split apart the dreadful peak of Mount Śveta.

Word by Word

साshe/that (f.)

तदाthen

विमलाspotless, bright

शक्तिःspear, missile (śakti-weapon)

क्षिप्ताthrown, hurled

तेनby him/with that

महात्मनाby the great-souled one

बिभेदsplit, pierced, broke

शिखरम्peak, summit

घोरम्terrible, dreadful

श्वेतस्यof Śveta (the mountain named Śveta)

तरसाwith force, by speed/impetus

गिरेःof the mountain

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

śakti (spear-weapon)

Śveta-giri (Mount Śveta)

śikhara (mountain peak)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Extraordinary power (śakti) becomes meaningful and legitimate when guided by mahātman-like nobility—self-mastery and right intention. The verse implicitly warns that the ability to destroy is immense, so the wielder’s ethical stature matters.

What is happening in the narrative?

A radiant spear-weapon is hurled by a great-souled figure, and its force cleaves a terrifying summit of Mount Śveta, demonstrating overwhelming martial potency within Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration.