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Shloka 29

कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement

अश्वानृक्षसवर्णाश्व हंसवर्णर्हयोत्तमै: | व्यामिश्रयद्‌ रणे कर्ण: पाण्डवं छादयन्‌ शरै:,उस रणक्षेत्रमें पाण्डुनन्दन भीमको अपने बाणोंसे आच्छादित करते हुए कर्णने रीछके समान रंगवाले अपने काले घोड़ोंको भीमसेनके हंस-सदृश श्वेतवर्णवाले उत्तम घोड़ोंके साथ मिला दिया

sañjaya uvāca |

aśvān ṛkṣa-savarṇāśva haṃsa-varṇair hayottamaiḥ |

vyāmiśrayad raṇe karṇaḥ pāṇḍavaṃ chādayañ śaraiḥ ||

サञ्जयは語った――戦のただ中で、カルナはパーンダヴァ(ビーマ)を矢で覆いながら、熊のように黒い自らの馬を駆って、白鳥のごとく白いビーマセーナの名馬へと密接に絡みつかせた。

अश्वान्horses
अश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
ऋक्ष-स-वर्ण-अश्वान्horses of bear-like color
ऋक्ष-स-वर्ण-अश्वान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootऋक्षसवर्णाश्व
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
हंस-वर्ण-हय-उत्तमैःwith the best horses of swan-like color (white)
हंस-वर्ण-हय-उत्तमैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootहंसवर्णहयोत्तम
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
व्यामिश्रयत्mixed, intermingled
व्यामिश्रयत्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि + मिश्र (धातु: मिश्र)
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular
रणेin battle
रणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
कर्णःKarna
कर्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पाण्डवम्the Pandava (Bhima)
पाण्डवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
छादयन्covering, enveloping
छादयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootछाद्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Karṇa
B
Bhīma (Pāṇḍava, Bhīmasena)
H
horses
A
arrows
B
battlefield (raṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s war-ethos: in a kṣatriya conflict, victory is pursued through relentless pressure and tactical closeness. Ethically, it reflects how martial excellence can be used to dominate an opponent, while the larger epic invites reflection on the cost and moral weight of such overpowering force.

Sañjaya describes Karṇa attacking Bhīma fiercely—‘covering’ him with a rain of arrows—while Karṇa’s dark, bear-colored horses are driven into close intermingling with Bhīma’s swan-white, excellent horses, indicating a tight, chaotic engagement between their chariots.