Mahabharata 3.52.18 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 52, Shloka 18

Nala’s Embassy to Damayantī and the Gods’ Proposal (नलस्य दूतत्वं देवप्रस्तावश्च)

Devanagari script

सर्वानहं हनिष्यामि धार्तराष्ट्रानूस सौबलान्‌ । दुर्योधनं च कर्ण च यो वान्य: प्रतियोत्स्यते

Transliteration

sarvān ahaṁ haniṣyāmi dhārtarāṣṭrān saubalān | duryodhanaṁ ca karṇaṁ ca yo vānyaḥ pratiyotsyate ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “I will slay them all—the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, along with the Saubalas. And Duryodhana and Karṇa as well—whoever else dares to stand and fight against me.”

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• हनिष्यामि: will kill
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Kauravas)
• धार्तराष्ट्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• सौबलान्: the Saubalas (Śakuni and his kin)
• सौबलान्: Karma
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: सौबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• दुर्योधनम्: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कर्णम्: Karna
• कर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• अन्यः: another (any other)
• अन्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective (substantive use)
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतियोत्स्यते: will fight against (will oppose in battle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-युध्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Ātmanepada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Dhārtarāṣṭras (Kauravas)
• Saubalas
• Śakuni (implied by 'Saubala')
• Duryodhana
• Karṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension in the Mahābhārata between righteous duty in conflict (kṣatriya-dharma) and the corrosive force of personal rage. A vow to annihilate opponents may be framed as justice, yet it also risks becoming indiscriminate vengeance—showing how easily dharma can be claimed while passions drive action.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Vaiśampāyana’s narration, a warrior voice declares an uncompromising resolve: to kill the Kauravas (Dhārtarāṣṭras) and the Saubala faction, naming Duryodhana and Karṇa explicitly, and extending the threat to any other challenger. It functions as a battlefield-style oath that escalates the conflict and signals imminent violent confrontation.