Shloka 263

Adhyāya 40 (Book 7, Droṇa-parva): Abhimanyu’s Rapid Advance and Battlefield Disruption

Devanagari script

अवज्ञापूर्वकं शूर: सौभद्रस्य रणाजिरे । शूरवीर कर्णने समरांगणमें सुभद्राकुमारके सेवकोंको भी तीखे एवं उत्तम बाणोंद्वारा अवहेलनापूर्वक बींध डाला

Transliteration

avajñāpūrvakaṃ śūraḥ saubhadrasya raṇājire | śūravīraḥ karṇaḥ samara-aṅgaṇe subhadrākumārasya sevakān api tīkṣṇaiḥ uttamaiḥ bāṇaiḥ avajñayā viddhvā nyapātayat |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Di gelanggang perang, Karṇa yang gagah—dengan sikap meremehkan—menembus bahkan para pelayan dan pengiring Saubhadra (Abhimanyu) dengan anak panah yang tajam dan unggul, seakan mereka tak layak diperhitungkan.

Word by Word

• अवज्ञा-पूर्वकम्: disdainfully, with contempt
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवज्ञा + पूर्वक
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable adverb)

• शूरः: the hero/valiant one
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• सौभद्रस्य: of Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभद्र
• Form: Masculine, genitive, singular

• रण-अजिरे: in the battlefield/courtyard of war
• रण-अजिरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण + अजिर
• Form: Neuter, locative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna
• Abhimanyu (Saubhadra/Subhadrākumāra)
• Subhadrā
• Battlefield (raṇājira/samara-aṅgaṇa)
• Arrows (bāṇa)
• Attendants/followers (sevakāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how avajñā (contempt) can distort warrior conduct: martial excellence becomes ethically compromised when directed with disdain toward weaker or subordinate fighters. It invites reflection on restraint and dignity even amid kṣatriya warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, on the battlefield, not only confronts Abhimanyu’s side but also pierces and fells Abhimanyu’s attendants/retainers with sharp, superior arrows, doing so in a manner marked by contempt.