Shloka 2236

Devanagari script

उत्स्मयन्निव राधेयस्त्वरमाणो5 भ्यवारयत्‌ । विकराल नेत्रोंवाले उस भयानक राक्षसको आते देख राधापुत्र कर्णने मुसकराते हुए-से शीघ्रतापूर्वक आगे बढ़कर उसे रोका

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | utsmayann iva rādheyaḥ tvaramāṇo 'bhyavārayat |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Karṇa, the son of Rādhā, as though smiling, swiftly stepped forward and checked the oncoming foe—meeting the dreadful, wide-eyed rākṣasa without hesitation, with the fearless composure of a warrior resolved to stand his ground.

Word by Word

• उत्स्मयन्: smiling (slightly), with a smile
• उत्स्मयन्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्स्मयत् (उत् + स्मि धातु, शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• राधेयः: Rādheya (Karna, son of Rādhā)
• राधेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• त्वरमाणः: hastening, rushing
• त्वरमाणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरमाण (त्वर् धातु, शानच्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्यवारयत्: checked, stopped, warded off
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अव + √वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Rādheya (Karṇa)
• rākṣasa (a demon/ogre-like warrior)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: steadiness under threat and prompt protection of one’s side. Karṇa’s ‘as if smiling’ demeanor suggests inner control—courage that is not driven by panic but by disciplined resolve.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa (Rādheya), seeing a terrifying rākṣasa rushing forward, quickly advances and blocks his approach, effectively checking the enemy’s momentum at the front of the battle.