Shloka 21
Devanagari script
कर्णो हि समरे शक्तो जेतुं देवान् सवासवान्
Transliteration
karṇo hi samare śakto jetuṃ devān savāsavān
Translation
サञ्जयは言った。戦場においてカルナは、まことに神々すら—インドラをも含めて—打ち破り得る。ここは、カルナの恐るべき武威を示し、戦の道義と策の計量において、武力が時に神の秩序にさえ比肩するかのように見えることを語っている。
Word by Word
कर्णःKarna
कर्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
समरेin battle
समरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
शक्तःable/capable
शक्तः:
TypeAdjective
Rootशक्त
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जेतुम्to conquer
जेतुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootजि
FormInfinitive (Tumun)
देवान्the gods
देवान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सवासवान्together with Indra (Vāsava)
सवासवान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसवासव
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
K
KarnaD
Devas (gods)V
Vasava (Indra)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary human prowess can seem to challenge even divine forces, prompting reflection on the ethical tension in war: strength and skill do not automatically confer righteousness, yet they heavily influence outcomes and decisions.
Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizes Karṇa’s battlefield capability—so great that he could defeat even the gods, including Indra—thereby stressing Karṇa’s importance as a decisive warrior in the unfolding conflict.