Shloka 283

Devanagari script

संरम्भमीषद्गमितो वधाय कर्णात्मजस्याथ मन: प्रदप्रे । वृषसेनके चलाये हुए उन बाणोंद्वारा पहले ही आहत होकर श्वेतवाहन अर्जुनके मनमें थोड़ा-सा क्रोध जाग्रतू हुआ। फिर उन्होंने मन-ही-मन कर्णकुमारके वधका निश्चय किया

Transliteration

saṃrambham īṣad-gamito vadhāya karṇātmajasya atha manaḥ pradadpre |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Slightly stirred to wrath and intent on slaying Karṇa’s son, Arjuna’s mind was inflamed—having already been struck by the arrows discharged by Vṛṣasena. Thereupon, within himself, he resolved upon the death of the son of Karṇa.

Word by Word

संरम्भम्anger, wrath

ईषत्slightly, a little

गमितःwas brought/led (to), was made to reach

वधायfor killing, for the slaying

कर्णात्मजस्यof Karna's son

अथthen, thereafter

मनःmind

प्रदप्रेbecame intent/turned toward (lit. ran forth)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Arjuna

Karṇa

Vṛṣasena (Karṇa’s son)

Śvetavāhana (Arjuna as the one with white horses)

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 quickly anger can harden into lethal resolve in war, raising an ethical tension: a kṣatriya must fight decisively, yet the inner movement from being wounded to vengeful determination shows the peril of saṃrambha (impetuous wrath) overtaking discernment.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being hit by arrows shot by Vṛṣasena (Karṇa’s son), Arjuna—called Śvetavāhana—becomes slightly enraged; his mind flares up and he inwardly determines to kill Vṛṣasena.