Shloka 20

Gaṅgā-tīra Udaka-kriyā and Kuntī’s Disclosure of Karṇa’s Maternity

Strī-parva, Adhyāya 27

Devanagari script

स न: प्रथमजो भ्राता सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वर:

Transliteration

sa naḥ prathamajo bhrātā sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “He is our eldest brother, the foremost among all who bear weapons.”

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नः: of us / our
• नः: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Plural

• प्रथमजः: first-born / eldest
• प्रथमजः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथमज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वशस्त्रभृताम्: of all weapon-bearers
• सर्वशस्त्रभृताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वशस्त्रभृत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best / excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The line elevates the ethical weight of kinship and seniority: the eldest brother is not only a family anchor but also a model of martial excellence, implying responsibility and exemplary conduct in times of crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana, narrating the events of the Strī Parva, identifies a figure as “our first-born brother” and praises him as the foremost among weapon-bearers, underscoring his status and prowess within the war-torn context.