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Shloka 48

कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्

Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words

क्षणेनासीन्महीपाल क्षतजैधिप्रवर्तिनी । पञ्चालानहनत्‌ कर्णस्त्रिगर्ताश्न धनंजय:,भूपाल! क्षणभरमें वहाँ भूतलपर खूनकी नदी बह चली। कर्णने पंचालोंका और अर्जुनने त्रिगर्तोंका संहार कर डाला

kṣaṇenāsīnmahīpāla kṣatajaughapravartinī | pañcālān ahanat karṇas trigartān dhanañjayaḥ ||

サンジャヤは言った。大王よ、たちまち大地は血の奔流に濡れ、まるで血の河が流れ出したかのようであった。カルナはパンチャーラを斬り伏せ、ダナンジャヤ(アルジュナ)はトリガルタを屠った――戦の迅速にして分け隔てなき破滅を映す光景である。

क्षणेनin a moment; by a moment
क्षणेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
आसीत्was; became
आसीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (भू-सत्तायाम्)
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular
महीपालO king (protector of the earth)
महीपाल:
TypeNoun
Rootमहीपाल
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
क्षतजैःwith blood
क्षतजैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षतज
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
इधि-प्रवर्तिनीflowing like fuel (i.e., blazing/streaming intensely)
इधि-प्रवर्तिनी:
TypeAdjective
Rootइधि-प्रवर्तिनी
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
पञ्चालान्the Panchalas
पञ्चालान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्चाल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अहनत्slew; struck down
अहनत्:
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (हिंसायाम्)
FormImperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular
कर्णःKarna
कर्णः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्रिगर्तान्the Trigartas
त्रिगर्तान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootत्रिगर्त
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
धनंजयःDhananjaya (Arjuna)
धनंजयः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधनंजय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by address mahīpāla)
K
Karṇa
D
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
P
Pañcālas
T
Trigartas
B
battlefield/earth (bhūtala/mahī)

Educational Q&A

The verse underscores the terrifying speed and scale of battlefield destruction: once war is fully engaged, bloodshed becomes a ‘flood,’ and even renowned heroes enact their kṣatriya-duty through mass killing—highlighting the ethical tension between dharma-as-duty and the human cost of violence.

Sañjaya reports to the king that the fighting intensifies: the ground is drenched as if a river of blood flows; Karṇa devastates the Pañcāla forces, and Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) annihilates the Trigarta warriors.