Shloka 1

Arjuna’s Approach, Drona’s Recognition, and the Turning of the Cattle (अर्जुनागमनम्, द्रोणवाक्यम्, गोगमनिवृत्तिः)

Devanagari script

#2:8 #23:.7 () मल अा८ अष्टचत्वारिशो< ध्याय: कर्णकी आत्मप्रशंसापूर्ण अहंकारोक्ति कर्ण उवाच सर्वानायुष्मतो भीतान्‌ संत्रस्तानिव लक्षये । अयुद्धमनसश्नैव सर्वाश्वैवानवस्थितान्‌,कर्ण बोला--मैं आप सब आयुष्मानोंको भयभीत एवं त्रस्त-सा देखता हूँ। आपकमेंसे किसीका मन युद्धमें नहीं लग रहा है एवं सभी चञचल दिखायी देते हैं

Transliteration

karṇa uvāca | sarvān āyuṣmataḥ bhītān saṁtrastān iva lakṣaye | ayuddha-manasaś caiva sarvān eva anavasthitān |

Translation

Karna said: “I observe all of you—men of long life—looking fearful and as though shaken with panic. None of you seems to have a mind for battle, and all appear unsteady and unsettled.”

Word by Word

• {'karṇa uvāca': 'Karna said', 'sarvān': 'all (of you)', 'āyuṣmataḥ': 'long-lived

• venerable (a respectful address)', 'bhītān': 'afraid

• fearful', 'saṁtrastān': 'terrified

• panic-stricken', 'iva': 'as if

• like', 'lakṣaye': 'I perceive

• I observe', 'ayuddha-manasaḥ': 'those whose minds are not set on fighting

• disinclined to battle', 'ca eva': 'and indeed

• and certainly', 'anavasthitān': 'unsteady

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and practical demand for steadiness in a warrior context: fear and wavering undermine collective resolve, while leadership begins by diagnosing morale and calling others back to their duty (kṣatriya-dharma) and composure.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna addresses his side and remarks that he sees them frightened and unsettled, with no one truly inclined toward fighting. It functions as a morale-check and a pointed critique meant to shame or rouse them into readiness for battle.