Shloka 37

Devanagari script

ततः क्षुरप्रेण सुसंशितेन सुवर्णपुड्खेन हुताग्निवर्चसा । श्रिया ज्वलन्तं ध्वजमुन्ममाथ महारथस्याधिरथे: किरीटी

Transliteration

tataḥ kṣurapreṇa susaṃśitena suvarṇapuḍkhena hutāgnivarcāsā | śriyā jvalantaṃ dhvajam unmamātha mahārathasyādhiratheḥ kirīṭī ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。ついで冠を戴くアルジュナは、自らの戦車より、剃刀の刃のごとく鋭い矢—よく研がれ、金の羽根を備え、供犠の火のように燃え立つ—を放ち、大戦車武者カルナの旗印を粉砕した。栄光の光を絶えず放っていたその標も、ついに砕け散ったのである。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• क्षुरप्रेण: with a razor-edged (arrow/weapon)
• क्षुरप्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुरप्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सुसंशितेन: well-sharpened
• सुसंशितेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुसंशित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सुवर्णपुड्खेन: having a golden feather/shaft-end
• सुवर्णपुड्खेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्णपुड्ख
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• हुताग्निवर्चसा: with the radiance of the sacrificial fire
• हुताग्निवर्चसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हुताग्निवर्चस्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• श्रिया: with splendor/beauty
• श्रिया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• ज्वलन्तम्: blazing
• ज्वलन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ध्वजम्: banner, standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उन्ममाथ: shattered/tore down
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महारथस्य: of the great chariot-warrior
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अधिरथेः: of Adhiratha (Karna’s foster-father); i.e., of Karna
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिरथ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• किरीटी: the diademed one (Arjuna)
• किरीटी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (Kirīṭī)
• Karṇa
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• kṣurapra (razor-edged arrow)
• hutāgni (sacrificial fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the fragility of external splendor—symbols of status like a banner can be destroyed in an instant. In the dharmic frame of the epic, it cautions against overreliance on pride and public honor, and highlights how swiftly fortune turns in war when one is bound to a chosen course of action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, using a sharp razor-headed arrow with golden fletching and fire-like brilliance, strikes and shatters Karṇa’s radiant battle-standard (dhvaja), a significant symbolic setback for Karṇa amid the chariot duel.