Shloka 19

Devanagari script

पुरा निध्नन्ति राधेयं भीमचापच्युता: शरा: । ते यतथध्वं महेष्वासा: सूतपुत्रस्य रक्षणे,“कहीं ऐसा न हो कि भीमसेनके धनुषसे छूटे हुए बाण राधानन्दन कर्णको पहले ही मार डालें। अतः महाधनुर्धर वीरो! तुम सब लोग सूतपुत्रकी रक्षाका प्रयत्न करो”

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | purā nidhna nti rādhēyaṃ bhīmacāpacyutāḥ śarāḥ | te yathādhvaṃ maheṣvāsāḥ sūtaputrasya rakṣaṇe |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “It may happen that the arrows released from Bhīma’s bow strike down Rādheya (Karna) beforehand. Therefore, O great bowmen, exert yourselves to protect the charioteer’s son.” The line underscores the battlefield ethic of guarding a key warrior whose fall could decisively tilt the balance, and it frames protection as an urgent collective duty amid the chaos of war.

Word by Word

पुराbeforehand, earlier

निघ्नन्तिthey kill/strike down

राधेयम्Radheya (Karna)

भीम-चाप-च्युताःreleased from Bhima's bow

शराःarrows

तेthey / those (you all)

यतध्वम्strive, make effort

महेष्वासाःgreat bowmen (O mighty archers)

सूत-पुत्रस्यof the charioteer's son (Karna)

रक्षणेin (the act of) protection

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

Karna (Rādheya, Sūtaputra)

Bow

Arrows

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In the midst of war, safeguarding a pivotal ally becomes a collective obligation; vigilance and coordinated protection are presented as a practical form of duty (dharma) when a single loss could bring catastrophic consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports an urgent warning: Bhīma’s arrows may kill Karṇa quickly, so the assembled great archers are instructed to intensify their efforts to protect Karṇa on the battlefield.