Shloka 19

Devanagari script

पाण्डवानां यशो राजंस्तव निनन्‍्दां च भारत । अनुजानीहि मां राजन्‌ सभृत्यबलवाहनम्‌

Transliteration

pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśo rājan tava nindāṃ ca bhārata | anujānīhi māṃ rājan sabhṛtyabalavāhanam ||

Translation

Wahai Raja, wahai Bhārata, aku tak sanggup menahan kemasyhuran para Pāṇḍava dan cela yang menimpa dirimu. Maka, wahai Raja, izinkan aku berangkat bersama para pengiring, pasukan, dan kendaraan-kendaraanku.

Word by Word

पाण्डवानाम्of the Pandavas

यशःfame, glory

राजन्O king

तवyour

निन्दाम्blame, censure

चand

भारतO Bharata (descendant of Bharata)

अनुजानीहिpermit, allow (you)

माम्me

राजन्O king

सभृत्यबलवाहनम्together with (my) servants, forces, and vehicles

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karna

Pāṇḍavas

King (addressed as Bhārata)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya concern for honor and reputation: a warrior-leader seeks permission to act so that a rival’s fame does not eclipse his side and so that his king is not subjected to public blame.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna addresses the king (called ‘Bhārata’), stating that he cannot tolerate the Pāṇḍavas’ rising renown and the consequent reproach to the king; he asks for leave to depart with his full retinue and military resources, implying readiness for decisive action.