Shloka 22

Devanagari script

पराजिता: पज्च महारथास्तु ते महाहवे सूतसुतेन मारिष । निरुद्यमास्तस्थुरमित्रनन्दना यथेन्द्रियार्थात्मवता पराजिता:,आर्य! जैसे मनको वशमें रखनेवाले जितेन्द्रिय पुरुषके द्वारा पराजित हुए विषय उसे आदृष्ट नहीं कर पाते, उसी प्रकार महासमरमें सूतपुत्र कर्णके द्वारा परास्त हुए वे पाँचों पांचाल वीर निश्वेष्टभावसे खड़े हो गये और शत्रुओंका आनन्द बढ़ाने लगे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

parājitāḥ pañca mahārathās tu te mahāhave sūtasutena māriṣa |

nirudyamās tasthur amitra-nandanā yathendriyārthātmavatā parājitāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya dit : Ô cher ami, ces cinq grands guerriers de char, vaincus dans l’immense bataille par Karṇa, fils d’un cocher, demeurèrent là, impuissants et inertes, augmentant ainsi la joie de leurs ennemis ; de même que les objets des sens, une fois domptés par l’homme maître de lui, qui a conquis ses facultés intérieures, ne peuvent plus le séduire ni le subjuguer.

Word by Word

पराजिताःdefeated

पञ्चfive

महारथाःgreat chariot-warriors

तुbut/indeed

तेthose (they)

महाहवेin the great battle

सूतसुतेनby the charioteer’s son (Karna)

मारिषO noble sir

निरुद्यमाःinactive, without effort

तस्थुःstood

अमित्रनन्दनाःdelighters of enemies (i.e., causing enemies’ joy)

यथाjust as

इन्द्रियार्थाःobjects of the senses

आत्मवताby a self-controlled person

पराजिताःdefeated

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

sūta (charioteer lineage/class)

five mahārathas (five Pāñcāla warriors, implied)

enemies/foes (amitra)

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 uses a moral-psychological simile: just as sense-objects lose their power over a person who has mastered the senses, so defeated warriors become incapable of effective action. It highlights the ideal of inner conquest (indriya-jaya) as a model for understanding outer victory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that in the great battle Karṇa has routed five elite warriors (understood as Pāñcāla champions). After being beaten back, they stand inert and powerless, which heartens their opponents.