Shloka 50

Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

तेषां त्राणार्थमुद्यन्तं वधार्थ द्विषघतामपि

Transliteration

teṣāṃ trāṇārtham udyantaṃ vadhārthaṃ dviṣaghatām api

Translation

Même lorsqu’ils se dressent—pour protéger les leurs ou pour abattre leurs ennemis—je les affronte; car, dans la guerre, leur résolution se tourne vers le salut ou vers le carnage, et l’un comme l’autre doivent être rencontrés par une action décisive.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: —, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• त्राणार्थम्: for (their) protection
• त्राणार्थम्: प्रयोजन
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्राण + अर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उद्यन्तम्: rising up; ready/striving
• उद्यन्तम्: कर्म
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + यम् (उद्यत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वधार्थम्: for killing
• वधार्थम्: प्रयोजन
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध + अर्थ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्विषघतानाम्: of the slayers of enemies
• द्विषघतानाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विष् + घात (द्विषघात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts two wartime intentions—protecting one’s side and killing the enemy—highlighting that in battle both motives operate, and a warrior’s response is shaped by the harsh ethical reality of combat where protection and violence are intertwined.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna, speaking amid the Kurukṣetra conflict, refers to opponents who advance either to defend their allies or to destroy enemies, framing their movement as purposeful and implying his readiness to counter them regardless of which aim drives them.