Shloka 13

Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy

Devanagari script

एवमुक्‍्त्वा महाराज कर्णमाश्लिष्य भारत

Transliteration

evam uktvā mahārāja karṇam āśliṣya bhārata

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Having spoken thus, O great king, he embraced Karṇa, O descendant of Bharata.” The line marks a turning point in the narrative: words of counsel or disclosure are sealed not merely by argument but by a human gesture, suggesting intimacy, persuasion, and the ethical weight of the moment.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्त्वा: having said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• कर्णम्: Karna (as object)
• कर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• आश्लिष्य: having embraced
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्लिष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage)

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Karṇa
• Bhārata (dynastic epithet)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how significant speech—often involving duty, loyalty, or moral choice—is reinforced by action. The embrace functions as an ethical and emotional seal, implying reconciliation, persuasion, or a claim of closeness that can influence dharmic decision-making.

What is happening in the narrative?

After delivering a statement (the content lies in the preceding lines), the speaker physically embraces Karṇa. Vaiśampāyana narrates this to the king, using the gesture to signal the gravity of the exchange and its potential consequences.