Shloka 37

Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange

Chapter 55

Devanagari script

दुःशासन द्वादशभि: कृपं शारद्वतं त्रिभि: । भीष्म शान्तनवं षष्ट्या राजानं च शतेन ह । कर्ण च कर्णिना कर्णे विव्याध परवीरहा

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

duḥśāsanaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ kṛpaṃ śāradvataṃ tribhiḥ |

bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ ṣaṣṭyā rājānaṃ ca śatena ha |

karṇaṃ ca karṇinā karṇe vivyādha paravīrahā ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The slayer of enemy-heroes struck Duḥśāsana with twelve arrows, Kṛpa Śāradvata with three, Bhīṣma the son of Śāntanu with sixty, and the king (Duryodhana) with a hundred. Then he pierced Karṇa in the ear with an arrow called Karṇī, grievously wounding him.

Word by Word

• दुःशासनम्: Duhshasana (as object)
• दुःशासनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःशासन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्वादशभिः: with twelve (arrows)
• द्वादशभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कृपम्: Kripa
• कृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शारद्वतम्: the Sharadvata (son of Sharadvan)
• शारद्वतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद्वत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिभिः: with three (arrows)
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• भीष्मम्: Bhishma
• भीष्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शान्तनवम्: son of Shantanu
• शान्तनवम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्तनव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• षष्ट्या: with sixty (arrows)
• षष्ट्या: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्टि
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• शतेन: with a hundred (arrows)
• शतेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

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

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

• कर्णिना: with the (arrow) named Karni / ear-piercing arrow
• कर्णिना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कर्णे: in the ear
• कर्णे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• परवीरहा: slayer of enemy-heroes
• परवीरहा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-वीर-हन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Duḥśāsana
• Kṛpa (Śāradvata)
• Śaradvat
• Bhīṣma (Śāntanava)
• Śāntanu
• Duryodhana
• Karṇa
• Karṇī (arrow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the disciplined, targeted nature of kṣatriya warfare: prowess is shown through precise action against specific opponents. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—duty and victory pursued through violence, with each act carrying moral weight even when performed within the accepted codes of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s rapid volley of arrows: he wounds Duḥśāsana, Kṛpa, Bhīṣma, and Duryodhana with specified counts, then pierces Karṇa in the ear using an arrow named Karṇī, marking a dramatic moment of battlefield dominance.