Shloka 21

कर्णभीमसेनयुद्धम् | Karṇa–Bhīmasena Engagement

Chapter 111

Devanagari script

सो5तिविद्धो बलवता राक्षसेन्द्रोी महाबल:

Transliteration

so ’tividdho balavatā rākṣasendro mahābalaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Sang penguasa rākṣasa yang perkasa itu, meski berhimpun kekuatan besar, tertembus oleh hantaman yang amat kuat.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिविद्धः: pierced through / grievously wounded
• अतिविद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिविद्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बलवता: by the strong (one)
• बलवता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राक्षसेन्द्रः: the lord of the Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षसेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महाबलः: very mighty
• महाबलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• rākṣasendra (lord of the Rākṣasas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh impartiality of battle: strength and status do not guarantee safety, and in war even the mightiest can be brought down when confronted by greater force—prompting reflection on the ethical cost of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a powerful leader among the Rākṣasas has been severely pierced/wounded by a strong opponent or strike, indicating a decisive moment of injury amid the fighting.