Shloka 31

Karṇa–Sūrya Saṃvāda: Satya, Dāna, and the Amoghā Śakti (कर्ण–सूर्यसंवादः)

Devanagari script

परिगृहा शतघ्नीश्व सचक्रा: सहुडोपला: । चिक्षिपुर्भुजवेगेन लड़कामध्ये महास्वना:,पहियोंवाली तोपों, शृंगों और गोलोंको ले-लेकर महान्‌ कोलाहल करते हुए वानर अपनी भुजाओंके वेगसे उन्हें लंकामें फेंकने लगे

Transliteration

parigṛhya śataghnīś ca cakrāḥ sahūḍopalāḥ | cikṣipur bhujavegena laṅkāmadhye mahāsvanāḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Seizing śataghnīs and discus-like weapons, along with stones and boulders, the warriors—raising a tremendous din—hurled them with the force of their arms into the midst of Laṅkā.”

Word by Word

परिगृह्यhaving taken up / having seized

शतघ्नीःsataghnīs (missiles/engines of war)

चand

चक्राःwheels/discs

सहtogether with

उडूपलाःstones/rocks (uplifted boulders)

चिक्षिपुःthey hurled / they threw

भुजवेगेनby the force of (their) arms

लङ्कामध्येin the midst of Laṅkā / into Laṅkā

महास्वनाःmaking a great noise

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Laṅkā

śataghnī (war-engine/projectile)

cakra (discus weapon)

stones/boulders (upala)

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?

The verse highlights the moral weight of warfare: when a battle is undertaken, it demands unified resolve and disciplined strength, yet it also brings overwhelming noise and disruption—reminding the listener that violence, even in a cause, has palpable consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes a siege-like assault: combatants seize heavy missiles and weapons (śataghnīs, cakras, stones) and, amid a great uproar, hurl them with arm-strength into the heart of Laṅkā.