Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

त॑ प्रत्यविध्यद्‌ राधेयो जाम्बूनदविभूषितै:

Transliteration

taṁ pratyavidhyad rādheyo jāmbūnadavibhūṣitaiḥ

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then Rādheya (Karna) struck him back in return, using arrows adorned with Jāmbūnada gold—an image of martial splendor set within the grim reciprocity of battlefield violence.

Word by Word

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

• प्रत्यविध्यत्: pierced/struck (in return)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यध् (विध्यति) + प्रति-
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• जाम्बूनद-विभूषितैः: with (things) adorned with Jāmbūnada-gold
• जाम्बूनद-विभूषितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जाम्बूनद + विभूषित
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Rādheya (Karna)
• Jāmbūnada gold
• arrows (implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of immediate reciprocation—injury answered by counter-injury—showing how martial duty and personal rivalry can intensify cycles of violence, even when framed as kṣatriya conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the midst of combat, Karna (Rādheya) responds to an attack by striking his opponent back, using arrows described as richly ornamented with fine gold, emphasizing both his prowess and the grandeur of war’s outward display.