Shloka 54

Devanagari script

सैनापत्ये तु राधेयमभिषिच्य सुतस्तव । अमन्यत तदा>त्मानं कृतार्थ कालचोदितः,कालसे प्रेरित हुआ आपका पुत्र दुर्योधन राधाकुमार कर्णको सेनापतिके पदपर अभिषिक्त करके अपने-आपको कृतकृत्य मानने लगा

Transliteration

senāpatye tu rādheyam abhiṣicya sutas tava | amanyata tadātmānaṃ kṛtārthaṃ kālacoditaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : «Après avoir installé Rādheya (Karna) dans la charge de commandant en chef, ton fils (Duryodhana), poussé par le Temps (Kāla), s’imagina alors avoir accompli son dessein.»

Word by Word

सैनापत्येin the generalship/command

तुbut/indeed

राधेयम्Radheya (Karna)

अभिषिच्यhaving anointed/installed

सुतःson

तवof you/your

अमन्यतthought/considered

तदाthen

आत्मानम्himself

कृतार्थम्fulfilled; having achieved his aim

कालचोदितःimpelled by Time/fate

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Duryodhana

Karna (Rādheya)

Kāla (Time/Destiny)

Senāpati (commander-in-chief office)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the power of kāla (Time/destiny) in pushing human decisions and the danger of self-satisfaction born from mere strategic success. Ethical resolution is not guaranteed by appointing a capable commander; the deeper trajectory of adharma and its consequences continues, regardless of momentary confidence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana formally installs Karna (Rādheya) as the commander-in-chief. After this appointment, Duryodhana feels his objective has been achieved, a confidence framed as being propelled by kāla.