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Shloka 8

Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)

घोररूपो महारीद्रस्तनुत्रास्थिविदारण: । निर्भिन्द्यां येन रुष्टो*हमपि मेरुं महागिरिम्‌,यह अत्यन्त भयंकर घोर बाण कवच तथा हडियोंको भी चीर देनेवाला है। मैं कुपित होनेपर इस बाणके द्वारा महान्‌ पर्वत मेरुको भी विदीर्ण कर सकता हूँ

ghorarūpo mahārīdras tanutrāsthividāraṇaḥ | nirbhindyāṁ yena ruṣṭo 'ham api meruṁ mahāgirim ||

カルナは言った。「この矢はおぞましい相を持つ――巨大にして貫徹する一矢、鎧も骨も裂き割る。われが憤怒に燃ゆるとき、この矢そのもので、偉大なる山メル(須弥山)さえも断ち割ってみせよう。」

घोररूपःof terrible form
घोररूपः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootघोररूप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
महारौद्रःvery fierce
महारौद्रः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहारौद्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तनुत्रarmor, cuirass
तनुत्र:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतनुत्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अस्थिbones
अस्थि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअस्थि
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
विदारणःsplitting, rending
विदारणः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविदारण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निर्भिन्द्याम्I could split/pierce
निर्भिन्द्याम्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootनिर्भिद्
FormPotential/Optative (Vidhi-lin), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada
येनby which
येन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
रुष्टःangered
रुष्टः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootरुष्ट
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअहम्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
मेरुम्Meru
मेरुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमेरु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
महागिरिम्the great mountain
महागिरिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहागिरि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

कर्ण उवाच

K
Karna
M
Meru
A
arrow/missile (bāṇa/śara implied)
A
armour (kavaca)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights how wrath amplifies destructive intent: Karna frames his martial power as limitless when angered, illustrating the ethical danger of pride and rage in war—strength without restraint tends toward excess.

Karna is describing a fearsome weapon at his disposal, boasting that it can pierce armour and bone and that, if provoked, he could use it to cleave even the great mountain Meru—an image meant to convey overwhelming martial potency.