Shloka 14

काकोपमोपदेशः

The Crow-and-Swan Exemplum as Counsel to Karṇa

Devanagari script

अन्यत्‌ कार्मुकमादाय धर्मपुत्रश्नमूमुखे । दुर्योधनस्य चिच्छेद ध्वजं कार्मुकमेव च,राजा युधिष्ठिर उस अपमानको सहन न कर सके। उनका क्रोध बहुत बढ़ गया। उनकी आँखें रोषसे लाल हो गयीं। उन्होंने उस कटे हुए धनुषको फेंककर दूसरा हाथमें ले लिया। फिर उन धर्मपुत्रने सेनाके मुहानेपर दुर्योधनके ध्वज और धनुषको भी काट डाला

Transliteration

anyat kārmukam ādāya dharmaputraḥ samamukhe | duryodhanasya ciccheda dhvajaṁ kārmukam eva ca ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。ダルマの子（ユディシュティラ）は別の弓を取り、戦列の最前でドゥルヨーダナの旗印を斬り落とし、その弓をも断ち切った。

Word by Word

अन्यत्another

कार्मुकम्bow

आदायhaving taken

धर्मपुत्रःDharma's son (Yudhiṣṭhira)

नृमूखेat the front/forepart of the army (lit. at the 'men's mouth'/front)

दुर्योधनस्यof Duryodhana

चand

चिच्छेदcut off

ध्वजम्banner/standard

कार्मुकम्bow

एवindeed/also/just

चand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmaputra)

Duryodhana

bow (kārmuka)

banner/standard (dhvaja)

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?

Even in anger, a dhārmic warrior’s force is ideally restrained and purposeful—aimed at neutralizing the opponent’s capacity to harm (cutting bow and banner) rather than descending into vindictive excess.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the thick of battle, Yudhiṣṭhira takes up a fresh bow and strikes decisively, severing Duryodhana’s chariot-banner and his bow, publicly diminishing the enemy’s martial and symbolic strength.