Shloka 73

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

वधे त्वकुर्वन्‌ यत्नं ते तस्यथ कर्णमुखास्तदा

Transliteration

vadhe tv akurvan yatnaṃ te tasyatha karṇamukhās tadā

Translation

サंजयは言った。「そののち彼らは彼を討ち取らんとし、力の限りを尽くして攻め立てた。その時先頭に立ったのはカルナらであった。」

Word by Word

• वधे: in/for the killing (slaying)
• वधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• अकुर्वन्: they did / they made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• यत्नम्: effort
• यत्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्य: of him / of that (one)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• कर्णमुखाः: with Karṇa at the head (led by Karṇa)
• कर्णमुखाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्णमुख
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, intention and leadership can focus collective action toward a single lethal objective. It invites reflection on the ethical weight of targeted killing and the way strategic resolve can intensify adharma-like cruelty even amid claims of duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a group of warriors, led by Karṇa, are making a concentrated effort to kill a particular person (referred to as 'tasya', 'of him'). The emphasis is on coordinated exertion aimed at that opponent’s death.