Shloka 4

Devanagari script

रथानीकं विदार्यव शरजालैरनेकधा । कर्ण एकरथेनैव युधिष्ठिरमुपाद्रवत्‌,तदनन्तर कर्णने अपने बाणोंके समूहसे पाण्डवोंकी रथसेनाको अनेक भागोंमें विदीर्ण करके एकमात्र रथके द्वारा ही युधिष्ठिरपर धावा किया

Transliteration

rathānīkaṁ vidāryaiva śarajālair anekadhā | karṇa ekarathenaiva yudhiṣṭhiram upādravat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Having torn apart the Pandavas’ chariot-host into many sections with a dense net of arrows, Karṇa—single-handed in one chariot—then charged straight at Yudhiṣṭhira. The scene underscores the ruthless momentum of battle, where martial prowess and strategic aggression press upon a king famed for restraint and dharma.

Word by Word

रथानीकम्the chariot-army (chariot division)

विदार्यhaving torn

वैindeed

शरजालैःwith nets/masses of arrows

अनेकधाin many ways / into many parts

कर्णःKarna

एकरथेनwith a single chariot

एवonly / just

युधिष्ठिरम्Yudhishthira

उपाद्रवत्attacked / charged at

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karna

Yudhiṣṭhira

Pandavas (collective)

ratha (chariot)

rathānīka (chariot-host/formation)

śara (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?

The verse highlights how, in war, personal valor and tactical force can overwhelm even a dharma-centered ruler; it invites reflection on the tension between righteous restraint and the harsh necessities of kṣatriya warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna breaks up the Pandavas’ chariot formation with volleys of arrows and then, from his lone chariot, directly charges to engage Yudhiṣṭhira.