Shloka 3

Jayadratha Approaches Draupadī in the Forest

Hospitality, Persuasion, and Reproach

Devanagari script

प्राय: प्रधाना: पुरुषा: क्षोभयन्त्यरिवाहिनीम्‌

Transliteration

prāyaḥ pradhānāḥ puruṣāḥ kṣobhayanty arivāhinīm

Translation

Karna said: “More often than not, it is the foremost men—those of commanding ability and resolve—who throw an enemy host into confusion.”

Word by Word

• प्रायः: generally, for the most part
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायस्
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• प्रधानाḥ: chief, prominent
• प्रधानाḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• पुरुषाḥ: men, persons
• पुरुषाḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• क्षोभयन्ति: agitate, throw into turmoil
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षुभ्
• Form: Present tense (laṭ), parasmaipada, 3rd person, plural; causative (ṇic)

• अरिवाहिनीम्: the enemy army
• अरिवाहिनीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिवाहिनी
• Form: Feminine, accusative, singular

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• enemy army (arivāhinī)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That decisive outcomes in conflict often hinge on a few exceptional leaders: the courage, skill, and presence of foremost individuals can destabilize even a large opposing force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna is speaking in a martial, advisory tone, emphasizing how prominent warriors or leaders can create panic and disorder in an enemy formation—highlighting the strategic importance of key champions in battle.