Shloka 22

धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca

Devanagari script

अर्जुनेन प्रतिज्ञाते वधे कर्णसुतस्य तु

Transliteration

arjunena pratijñāte vadhe karṇasutasya tu

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。アルジュナが、カルナの子を討ち取ると厳かに誓願したとき、戦の趨勢は武人の誓いの道義的重みを帯びた――名誉と義務、そして戦の恐るべき不可避が、そこに合流したのである。

Word by Word

• अर्जुनेन: by Arjuna
• अर्जुनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रतिज्ञाते: when (it was) vowed / upon the vow being made
• प्रतिज्ञाते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रति + √ज्ञा)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• कर्णसुतस्य: of Karṇa's son
• कर्णसुतस्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णसुत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तु: but / indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Karṇa
• Karṇa’s son

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ethical gravity of a kṣatriya’s pratijñā (solemn vow): once publicly undertaken, it becomes a binding commitment tied to honor and dharma, even when it leads into harsh and tragic consequences on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a turning point in the battle narrative: Arjuna has vowed to kill Karṇa’s son, and this vow sets the immediate martial objective and heightens the stakes for both sides, shaping subsequent actions and confrontations.