Shloka 16

Chapter 136: Pandava Counter-Encirclement and the Vāyavya-Astra Disruption

Devanagari script

दुर्योधनस्ततो राजन्नभ्यभाषत दुर्मुखम्‌ । एष दुर्मुख राधेयो भीमेन विरथीकृत:

Transliteration

duryodhanas tato rājann abhyabhāṣata durmukham | eṣa durmukha rādheyo bhīmena virathīkṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Sanjaya said: Then, O King, Duryodhana addressed Durmukha: “Look, Durmukha—Radheya (Karna) has been made chariotless by Bhima.” The report underscores the swift reversals of fortune in war and the moral pressure placed on commanders when a famed warrior is suddenly brought low.

Word by Word

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke to, addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दुर्मुखम्: Durmukha
• दुर्मुखम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एषः: this (man)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दुर्मुख: O Durmukha
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• राधेयः: Radheya (Karna)
• राधेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमेन: by Bhima
• भीमेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• विरथीकृतः: made chariotless, dismounted from the chariot
• Type: Verb
• Root: विरथीकृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त), Passive sense

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Duryodhana
• Dhritarashtra
• Durmukha
• Radheya (Karna)
• Bhima

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even renowned warriors can be suddenly reduced in battle; the episode highlights the instability of worldly power and the ethical burden on leaders who must respond to setbacks without losing discernment or responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Duryodhana speaks to Durmukha, pointing out that Karna (Radheya) has been rendered chariotless by Bhima—an urgent battlefield update meant to spur reaction and reorganization.