Shloka 33

Devanagari script

घटोत्कचं यदा कर्णो विशेषयति नो नूप

Transliteration

ghaṭotkacaṃ yadā karṇo viśeṣayati no nūpa

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。「カルナ（Karṇa）がガトートカチャ（Ghaṭotkaca）をことさらに狙い定めるとき——」（語りは、強大なラークシャサの戦士に対するカルナの意図的な集中へと移り、戦場の混沌の中で誰と対峙するかを選ぶことの戦術的・道義的重圧を浮かび上がらせる）。

Word by Word

• घटोत्कचम्: Ghaṭotkaca (as object)
• घटोत्कचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: घटोत्कच
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• यदा: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विशेषयति: distinguishes / singles out / targets
• Type: Verb
• Root: विशेषय्
• Form: Present (Lat), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• नूप: O Nūpa (vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नूप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Ghaṭotkaca
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a key ethical tension of war: a warrior’s deliberate choice of target is not merely tactical but carries moral weight, because it shapes the scale of harm and the course of fate for many on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya, reporting to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, introduces a moment where Karṇa begins to focus specifically on Ghaṭotkaca, signaling an impending decisive engagement against a dangerous Pāṇḍava ally.