Shloka 14

दुर्योधन-कर्ण-संवादः

Duryodhana–Karna Dialogue on Vyūha-bheda and Daiva

Devanagari script

ततोओस्‍्त्रे निहते ब्राह्मे बृहत्क्षत्रस्तु भारत । विव्याध ब्राह्माणं षष्ट्या स्वर्णपुड्खै: शिलाशितै:

Transliteration

tato ’stre nihate brāhme bṛhatkṣatras tu bhārata | vivyādha brāhmaṇaṁ ṣaṣṭyā svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: When the Brahmā-weapon had been neutralized, O Bhārata, Bṛhatkṣatra then struck the Brāhmaṇa with sixty arrows—gold-feathered and stone-whetted. The scene underscores how, once divine missiles are checked, the combatants revert to relentless human violence, pressing the battle without restraint even against one identified by sacred status.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from there/thereupon')

• अस्त्रे: in/with the weapon (missile)
• अस्त्रे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र
• Form: Neuter, locative singular

• निहते: when (it was) struck down/destroyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन्
• Form: Past passive participle, locative singular (agreeing with अस्त्रे)

• ब्राह्मे: Brahma(-given), Brahmic
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म
• Form: Neuter, locative singular (agreeing with अस्त्रे)

• बृहत्क्षत्रः: Bṛhatkṣatra (lit. 'he whose dominion is great')
• बृहत्क्षत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत्क्षत्र
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• तु: but, however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु
• Form: Avyaya

• भारत: O Bhārata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, vocative singular

• विव्याध: pierced, wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (liṭ), 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

• ब्राह्माणम्: the Brahmin (Drona)
• ब्राह्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, accusative singular

• षष्ट्या: with sixty
• षष्ट्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि
• Form: Feminine, instrumental singular

• स्वर्णपुड्खैः: with gold-feathered (arrows)
• स्वर्णपुड्खैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्णपुड्ख
• Form: Masculine, instrumental plural

• शिलाशितैः: stone-whetted, sharpened on stone
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिलाशित
• Form: Masculine, instrumental plural (agreeing with स्वर्णपुड्खैः)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhārata (Dhṛtarāṣṭra as addressee)
• Bṛhatkṣatra
• Brāhmaṇa (unnamed opponent)
• Brāhmāstra (Brahmā-weapon)
• arrows (gold-feathered, stone-whetted)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension of war: even after divine weapons are countered, fighters may continue with intensified human aggression. It invites reflection on restraint (dama) and the limits of righteous conduct when sacred identities (a 'Brāhmaṇa') are caught in martial violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the Brahmā-weapon (brāhmāstra) has been neutralized, Bṛhatkṣatra attacks his opponent—described as a Brāhmaṇa—shooting sixty arrows characterized as gold-feathered and sharpened on stone.