Shloka 22

अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः

Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath

Devanagari script

वयं व्यवसितं पार्थ वज़पाणिमिवोद्यतम्‌ । षड्रथा: प्रतियुध्येम तिष्तेम यदि संहता:

Transliteration

vayaṁ vyavasitaṁ pārtha vajrapāṇim ivodyatam | ṣaḍrathāḥ pratiyudhyema tiṣṭhema yadi saṁhatāḥ ||

Translation

Kṛpa said: “O Pārtha, if we stand united and resolute—like Indra with the thunderbolt raised—then we six chariot-warriors can meet the enemy in battle. Let us not falter; cohesion and firm purpose are the ethical strength that makes resistance possible.”

Word by Word

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: —, Nominative, Plural

• व्यवसितम्: resolved, determined (purpose/resolve)
• व्यवसितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवसि (धातु: वस्/वसँ, उपसर्ग: वि-आ-)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थ: O Partha (Arjuna)
• पार्थ: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वज्रपाणिम्: Vajrapāṇi (Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt)
• वज्रपाणिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्रपाणि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उद्यम्: raised, lifted up
• उद्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-यम् (धातु: यम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• षड्रथाः: six chariot-warriors / six in chariots
• षड्रथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड्-रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्रतियुध्येम: we should fight against / engage in battle
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-युध् (धातु: युध्)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Plural

• तिष्ठेम: we should stand / remain
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Plural

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• संहताः: united, together, in a compact body
• संहताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं-हन् (धातु: हन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kṛpa
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Vajrapāṇi (Indra)
• Vajra (thunderbolt)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that steadfast resolve (vyavasāya) and unity (saṁhati) are decisive moral and strategic strengths in a righteous struggle; even a smaller force can resist effectively when it stands together with firm purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛpa urges Pārtha (Arjuna) that if their side remains united, the six chariot-warriors can confront the opposing force; he reinforces morale by comparing their determined stance to Indra raising the thunderbolt.