Shloka 8

कर्णस्य एकाकि-प्रहारः तथा पाण्डव-महारथ-परिवेष्टनम् | Karṇa’s concentrated assault and the Pāṇḍava encirclement

Devanagari script

स तेनाहममर्षेण मित्रार्थे चापि पार्थिवा: । सत्यं व: प्रतिजानामि तद्‌ वाक्यं मे निबोधत

Transliteration

sa tenāham amarṣeṇa mitrārthe cāpi pārthivāḥ | satyaṃ vaḥ pratijānāmi tad vākyaṃ me nibodhata ||

Translation

Dijo Sañjaya: «Oh reyes, movido por la ira que me causó aquella afrenta y también para consumar el propósito de mi amigo Duryodhana, os hago un voto verdadero. Escuchad con atención mis palabras».

Word by Word

• {'saḥ': 'he

• that person (referring to the speaker’s resolve/stance)', 'tena': 'by that

• because of that (cause/instrument)', 'aham': 'I', 'amarṣeṇa': 'with intolerance

• from indignation/resentment at an insult', 'mitrārthe': 'for a friend’s sake

• for the purpose of a friend', 'ca api': 'and also', 'pārthivāḥ': 'O kings

• rulers (vocative plural)', 'satyam': 'truthfully

• in truth', 'vaḥ': 'to you (plural)', 'pratijānāmi': 'I vow

• I solemnly promise', 'tad': 'that', 'vākyam': 'statement

• words', 'me': 'my', 'nibodhata': 'understand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• pārthivāḥ (kings/rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how vows and public declarations are often driven by powerful motives—injured honor (amarṣa) and loyalty to an ally (mitrārtha). Ethically, it frames a tension: truthfulness in speech can coexist with morally charged intentions, reminding readers to examine not only whether a vow is true, but also what passions and aims propel it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a warrior’s resolve addressed to assembled rulers: provoked by an affront and intent on securing Duryodhana’s objective, he announces that he will make a truthful pledge and asks the kings to listen to his forthcoming statement.