Shloka 25

दुर्योधन-कर्ण-संवादः

Duryodhana–Karna Dialogue on Vyūha-bheda and Daiva

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्‌ वचन श्रुत्वा सारथी रथिनां वरम्‌ । द्रोणाय प्रापयामास काम्बोजैर्जवनै्हयै:,उनकी वह बात सुनकर सारथिने काम्बोजदेशीय (काबुली) वेगशाली घोड़ोंद्वारा रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ धृष्टकेतुको द्रोणाचार्यके निकट पहुँचा दिया

Transliteration

tasya tad vacanaṁ śrutvā sārathī rathināṁ varam | droṇāya prāpayāmāsa kāmbojair yavanaiḥ hayaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Hearing his words, the charioteer conveyed Dhṛṣṭaketu—foremost among chariot-warriors—to Droṇācārya, driving with swift horses of Kāmboja and Yavana breed. The verse underscores disciplined obedience within the chain of command amid war, where a messenger’s duty is fulfilled promptly and without distortion.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), indeclinable

• सारथिः: the charioteer
• सारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथिनाम्: of the chariot-warriors
• रथिनाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरम्: the best/excellent one
• वरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणाय: to Droṇa
• द्रोणाय: Sampradana
• Type: Proper Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• प्रापयामास: caused to reach / conveyed
• प्रापयामास: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (causative: प्रापय-)
• Form: लिट् (periphrastic perfect), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• काम्बोजैः: by Kāmboja (horses/men); Kāmbojan
• काम्बोजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: काम्बोज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• जवनैः: by swift/fast (ones)
• जवनैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जवन
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• हयैः: by horses
• हयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• sārathī (charioteer)
• Dhṛṣṭaketu
• Droṇācārya (Droṇa)
• Kāmboja horses
• Yavana horses

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights niyoga (assigned duty) and fidelity to instruction: the charioteer, upon hearing the directive, promptly carries out his role, reflecting disciplined service and reliability in a morally charged battlefield setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that, after hearing an instruction, a charioteer swiftly brings Dhṛṣṭaketu—described as an excellent chariot-warrior—to Droṇācārya, using fast Kāmboja and Yavana horses.