Shloka 46

Devanagari script

तेनोत्सृष्टा चक्रयुक्ता शतघ्नी सम॑ सर्वाश्वितुरो5श्चाञज्जघान । ते जानुभिर्जगतीमन्वपद्यन्‌ गतासवो निर्दशनाक्षिजिह्वा:,इसी समय घटोत्कचने एक शतषघ्नी छोड़ी, जिसमें पहिये लगे हुए थे। उस शतघ्नीने कर्णके चारों घोड़ोंको एक साथ ही मार डाला। उन घोड़ोंने प्राणशून्य होकर धरतीपर घुटने टेक दिये। उनके दाँत, नेत्र और जीभें बाहर निकल आयी थीं

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | tenotsṛṣṭā cakrayuktā śataghnī samaṁ sarvāśviturāś cāñjaghāna | te jānubhir jagatīm anvapadyan gatāsavo nirdśanākṣijihvāḥ ||

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。「そのときガトートカチャは、車輪を備えたシャタグニー（śataghnī）を投げ放ち、それでカルナの俊足の馬四頭を一度に打ち倒した。命を失った馬たちは膝を折って地に崩れ、歯も目も舌も突き出ていた—戦の無慈悲な力と、戦場における運命の急転を示す光景であった。」

Word by Word

तेनby that (weapon/act)

उत्सृष्टाreleased/let fly

चand

चक्रयुक्ताfitted with wheels

शतघ्नीa shataghnī (heavy missile/engine)

समम्together/at once

सर्वान्all

अश्वान्horses

तुरगान्steeds (horses)

चand

अञ्जत्smeared/struck (as read; text uncertain)

जघानslew/killed

तेthey (those horses)

जानुभिःwith (their) knees

जगतīmthe earth/ground

अन्वपद्यन्fell down/ sank down upon

गतासवःlifeless (whose life-breath had gone)

निर्दशनाक्षिजिह्वाःwith teeth, eyes, and tongues protruding

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Ghaṭotkaca

Karṇa

śataghnī (wheel-fitted weapon)

horses of Karṇa

earth/ground (jagatī)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the harsh reality of war: power and advantage can shift instantly, and even the mighty are vulnerable. It also reflects the grim cost inherent in kṣatriya warfare, where success is pursued through decisive, often brutal, means.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Ghaṭotkaca throws a wheel-mounted śataghnī and kills Karṇa’s four horses simultaneously. The dead horses collapse to the ground, described with graphic battlefield detail.