Shloka 18

रात्रौ युद्धप्रवृत्तिः — Night Battle Begins; Duryodhana’s Protective Orders for Droṇa

Droṇa-parva 139

Devanagari script

राज्ञ: सराजपुत्रांश्न॒ सोदर्याश्व विशेषत: । कर्ण गच्छत भद्रें व: परीप्सन्तो वृकोदरात्‌,महाराज! उस रोमांचकारी भयंकर शब्दके प्रकट होनेपर आपके पुत्र राजा दुर्योधनने बड़ी उतावलीके साथ राजाओं, राजकुमारों और विशेषत: अपने भाइयोंसे कहा--*तुम्हारा कल्याण हो, तुम सब लोग भीमसेनसे कर्णकी रक्षा करनेके लिये जाओ

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

rājñaḥ sa-rāja-putrāṃś ca sodaryāś ca viśeṣataḥ |

karṇa gacchata bhadraṃ vaḥ parīpsanto vṛkodarāt ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Quand s’éleva ce rugissement à la fois exaltant et terrible, le roi Duryodhana, dans une grande hâte, s’adressa aux rois et aux princes—surtout à ses propres frères—en disant : « Que le bien vous advienne. Allez sans tarder protéger Karṇa, car Vṛkodara (Bhīma) le prend pour cible et le recherche. »

Word by Word

• {'sañjaya uvāca': 'Sañjaya said', 'rājñaḥ': 'of kings

• to/among kings (contextual plural sense)', 'sa-rāja-putrān': 'together with the princes/royal sons', 'sodaryāḥ': 'uterine brothers

• full brothers', 'viśeṣataḥ': 'especially, in particular', 'karṇa': 'Karṇa (the warrior)', 'gacchata': 'go (plural imperative)', 'bhadram vaḥ': 'welfare/good fortune to you (plural)', 'parīpsantaḥ': 'seeking to protect

• desiring to secure/guard', 'vṛkodarāt': 'from Vṛkodara

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Karṇa
• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• kings
• princes
• Kaurava brothers

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of war, leaders must respond swiftly to imminent threats and uphold their obligations to protect comrades. The verse also shows how loyalty and strategic protection operate within a warrior code, even when driven by fear of a formidable opponent.

What is happening in the narrative?

A terrifying sound signals danger; Duryodhana urgently orders the kings, princes, and especially his brothers to move out and shield Karṇa because Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is advancing with intent to strike him.