Shloka 27

कर्णनिधनश्रवणम् — Hearing of Karṇa’s Fall and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament

Devanagari script

राजा भगीर थो वृद्धो बृहत्क्षत्रश्न केकय: । पराक्रमन्तौ विक्रान्ती निहतौ वीर्यवत्तरो,बूढ़े राजा भगीरथ और केकयनरेश बृहत्क्षत्र--ये दोनों अत्यन्त बलवान्‌ और पराक्रमी वीर थे, जो युद्धमें पराक्रम दिखाते हुए मारे गये

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | rājā bhagīratho vṛddho bṛhatkṣatraś ca kekayaḥ | parākramantau vikrāntau nihatau vīryavattarau ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The aged king Bhāgīratha and Bṛhatkṣatra, the ruler of the Kekayas—both exceedingly mighty and valiant—were slain while displaying their prowess in battle. The verse underscores the impartial devastation of war: even renowned, powerful elders fall when dharma is eclipsed by the fury of combat.

Word by Word

राजाking

भगीरथःBhagīratha

वृद्धःold, aged

बृहत्क्षत्रःBṛhatkṣatra (name; lit. 'great warrior/sovereignty')

केकयःthe Kekaya (king/person of Kekaya)

पराक्रमन्तौexerting valor, displaying prowess (the two)

विक्रान्तौvaliant, heroic (the two)

निहतौslain (the two)

वीर्यवत्तरौvery mighty, full of valor (the two)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bhāgīratha

Bṛhatkṣatra

Kekaya (kingdom/people)

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?

The verse highlights the inexorable cost of war: valor and status do not protect even powerful elders. It invites reflection on how martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) operates within the larger tragedy where many fall despite courage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports battlefield deaths: the aged king Bhāgīratha and Bṛhatkṣatra, the Kekaya ruler, are slain while fighting bravely.