Shloka 18

कर्णस्य सेनापत्याभिषेकः | Karṇa’s Consecration as Commander-in-Chief

Devanagari script

वृकोदरसमो युद्धे वृतः कैकेययोधिभि:

Transliteration

vṛkodarasamo yuddhe vṛtaḥ kaikeyayodhibhiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Au plus épais du combat, un guerrier égal à Vṛkodara (Bhīma) fut encerclé par les combattants du pays de Kaikeya—signe que même les plus puissants sont mis à l’épreuve lorsque la multitude se resserre d’un seul élan, et que le courage comme le devoir selon le dharma se mesurent face à des chances écrasantes.

Word by Word

• वृकोदरसमः: equal to Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदरसमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृकोदर-सम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वृतः: surrounded/encircled
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (वरणे)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कैकेययोधिभिः: by the Kaikeya warriors
• कैकेययोधिभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेय-योधि
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• Kaikeya warriors

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: true valor is shown not merely in strength but in steadiness when outnumbered, where duty and resolve are tested amid danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment in which a fighter comparable to Bhīma (Vṛkodara) is encircled by Kaikeya warriors, indicating a concentrated assault and a tense turning point in the combat.