Shloka 6

अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः

Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces

Devanagari script

प्रत्युद्ययुस्तु राधेयं पाण्डवानां महारथा: । धुन्वाना: कार्मुकाण्याजौ विक्षिपन्तश्नव सायकान्‌

Transliteration

pratyudyayus tu rādheyaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahārathāḥ | dhunvānāḥ kārmukāṇy ājau vikṣipantaś ca sāyakān ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Alors les grands guerriers en chars des Pāṇḍava s’avancèrent pour affronter Rādheya (Karṇa). Secouant leurs arcs sur le champ de bataille, ils progressaient en dispersant des volées de flèches.

Word by Word

• प्रत्युद्ययुः: advanced forth / marched out against
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-या (धातु: या)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), perfect (narrative past), 3, plural

• तु: but / indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• राधेयम्: Radha's son (Karna)
• राधेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: masculine, genitive, plural

• महारथाः: great chariot-warriors
• महारथाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• धुन्वानाः: shaking / brandishing
• Type: Verb
• Root: धुन्वत् (धातु: धुन्)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), parasmaipada sense (active), masculine, nominative, plural

• कार्मुकाणि: bows
• कार्मुकाणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्मुक
• Form: neuter, accusative, plural

• आजौ: in battle
• आजौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आजि
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• विक्षिपन्तः: hurling / shooting forth
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-क्षिपत् (धातु: क्षिप्)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), active, masculine, nominative, plural

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Radheya (Karna)
• Pandavas
• mahāratha (great chariot-warriors)
• kārmuka (bows)
• sāyaka (arrows)
• āja (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the kshatriya ideal of meeting a challenge directly: when confronted by a formidable opponent, the Pandava warriors respond with disciplined readiness and courage. Ethically, it reflects the grim framework of dharma-yuddha where warriors, bound by role-duty, engage without retreat when battle is joined.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Karna (Radheya) stands as the opposing champion, the Pandavas’ great chariot-fighters advance to face him. They brandish their bows and unleash arrows while moving forward, signaling the opening of a direct engagement against Karna.