Shloka 173

कर्णार्जुनसमागमः — The Karṇa–Arjuna Confrontation

Cosmic Spectatorship and Vows

Devanagari script

वक्षोदेशे भृशं पार्थ ताडयामास निर्दयम्‌ | महाराज! तदनन्तर द्रोणकुमारने धनुष खींचकर छोड़े हुए पंखयुक्त बाणसे कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुनकी छातीपर पुनः बड़े जोरसे निर्दयतापूर्वक प्रहार किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

vakṣodeśe bhṛśaṃ pārtha tāḍayāmāsa nirdayam |

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。パールタよ、彼は容赦なく、胸のあたりを激しく打ち据えた。

Word by Word

• वक्षःदेशे: in the chest-region
• वक्षःदेशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस्-देश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• भृशम्: violently, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम्

• पार्थ: O son of Pritha (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• ताडयामास: struck, smote
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड्
• Form: Periphrastic Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular

• निर्दयम्: mercilessly / merciless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्दय
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Partha (Arjuna)
• chest (vakṣodeśa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the merciless intensity of battlefield action, implicitly contrasting martial prowess with compassion; it highlights how war can eclipse humane restraint, raising ethical reflection even within kṣatriya duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Arjuna (addressed as Partha) is struck hard on the chest, described as a forceful and merciless blow amid the ongoing combat.