Shloka 49

Devanagari script

तत्राप्यधिकमालक्ष्य माधवं रथसत्तमम्‌ | क्षिप्रमभ्यपतत्‌ कर्ण: परीप्संस्तनयं तव

Transliteration

tatrāpy adhikam ālakṣya mādhavaṁ rathasattamam | kṣipram abhyapatat karṇaḥ parīpsaṁs tanayaṁ tava ||

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。そこにあってもカルナは、戦車武者の中で最上のマーダヴァをはっきりと見定め、汝の子を討ち取らんと急ぎ前へと突進した。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• अधिकम्: more/excessively
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आलक्ष्य: having observed/seeing
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + लक्ष्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Krishna)
• माधवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथसत्तमम्: the best of charioteers
• रथसत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथसत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• अभ्यपतत्: rushed/charged towards
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + पत्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• परीप्सन्: desiring to obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + आप्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तनयम्: son
• तनयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तव: of you/your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa)
• Karna
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• tanaya (Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son—Duryodhana implied by context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in the pressure of war, a warrior’s loyalty and determination can become a driving force that narrows attention to a single objective. Ethically, it invites reflection on how resolve and duty (as understood by the combatant) may conflict with prudence and the broader human cost of battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna, noticing Mādhava—described as the foremost chariot-warrior—charges swiftly, aiming to reach Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (contextually Duryodhana). It depicts a rapid tactical movement amid the ongoing fighting in Droṇa Parva.