Shloka 5

दुर्योधन-कर्ण-संवादः

Duryodhana–Karna Dialogue on Vyūha-bheda and Daiva

Devanagari script

तमभ्ययाद्‌ बृहत्क्षत्र: केकयानां महारथ: । भ्रातृणां नूप पज्चानां श्रेष्ठ समरकर्कश:,नरेश्वर! उस समय रणकर्कश केकय महारथी वृहत्क्षत्र, जो अपने पाँचों भाइयोंमें सबसे बड़े थे, द्रोणाचार्यका सामना करनेके लिये आगे बढ़े

Transliteration

tam abhyayād bṛhatkṣatraḥ kekayānāṁ mahārathaḥ | bhrātṝṇāṁ nūpa pañcānāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ samara-karkaśaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Bṛhatkṣatra, the great chariot-warrior of the Kekayas—fierce and unyielding in battle, and the eldest among his five royal brothers—advanced to confront Droṇācārya. The scene underscores the warrior’s duty to step forward in the crisis of war, even against a formidable teacher-general, placing clan honor and battlefield responsibility above personal safety.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्ययात्: advanced towards / approached
• अभ्ययात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, अभि

• बृहत्क्षत्रः: Bṛhatkṣatra (proper name)
• बृहत्क्षत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत्क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केकयानाम्: of the Kekayas
• केकयानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भ्रातॄणाम्: of (his) brothers
• भ्रातॄणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• नृपपञ्चानाम्: of the five princes (i.e., the five brothers)
• नृपपञ्चानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best / eldest
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समरकर्कशः: fierce in battle
• समरकर्कशः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समरकर्कश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)!
• नरेश्वर: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bṛhatkṣatra
• Kekaya
• Droṇācārya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when war is joined, a leader—especially the eldest among brothers—must take responsibility and face even a daunting opponent, prioritizing duty, protection of one’s side, and honor over fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Bṛhatkṣatra of the Kekayas, the foremost among five royal brothers and known for battle-ferocity, advances to meet Droṇācārya in combat.