Shloka 9

दुःशासनवधः (Duḥśāsana-vadha) — Bhīma’s vow-fulfillment in combat

Devanagari script

तांस्तु सर्वान्‌ महेष्वासान्‌ कर्णो वैकर्तनो नृप

Transliteration

tāṁstu sarvān maheṣvāsān karṇo vaikartano nṛpa

Translation

Sañjaya said: O King, Karṇa—known as Vaikartana—then addressed all those mighty bowmen, gathering them in purpose amid the pressing demands of battle.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• महेष्वासान्: great archers
• महेष्वासान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वैकर्तनः: Vaikartana (son of Vikartana)
• वैकर्तनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकर्तन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• maheṣvāsaḥ (mighty bowmen)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights martial leadership and responsibility: in war, a commander must unify capable warriors and direct them decisively, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of organized action rather than scattered valor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karṇa (Vaikartana) turns to all the great archers present—signaling that he is about to issue instructions, rally them, or set a coordinated battle plan.