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Shloka 10

कृपकर्णसंवादः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Karṇa on Deśa-Kāla and Coordinated Strategy

उत्तर उवाच केनासि विजयो नाम केनासि श्वेतवाहन: । किरीटी नाम केनासि सव्यसाची कथं भवान्‌,उत्तरने पूछा--किस कारणसे आपका नाम विजय हुआ और किसलिये आप श्वेतवाहन कहलाते हैं? आपके किरीटी नाम धारण करनेका क्या कारण है? और आप सव्यसाची नामसे कैसे प्रसिद्ध हुए?

uttara uvāca | kenāsi vijayo nāma kenāsi śvetavāhanaḥ | kirīṭī nāma kenāsi savyasācī kathaṃ bhavān |

ウッタラーは問うた。「いかなる理由であなたは『ヴィジャヤ(勝利者)』と呼ばれるのですか。なぜ『シュヴェータヴァーハナ(白馬を駆る者)』として知られるのですか。どうして『キリーティ(冠を戴く者)』の名を帯びたのですか。また、いかなるゆえに『サヴ்யサーチー(左右いずれの手でも射る者)』として名高いのですか。」

उत्तरःUttara (the prince)
उत्तरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootउत्तर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, Third, Singular
केनby what (reason)
केन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
असिare (you)
असि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Second, Singular
विजयःVictory (as a name/epithet)
विजयः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootविजय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नामby name / named
नाम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनामन्
केनby what (reason)
केन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
असिare (you)
असि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Second, Singular
श्वेतवाहनःone whose vehicle is white / White-charioted
श्वेतवाहनः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootश्वेतवाहन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
किरीटीKirītī (the diadem-wearer)
किरीटी:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकिरीटिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नामby name / named
नाम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनामन्
केनby what (reason)
केन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
असिare (you)
असि:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Second, Singular
सव्यसाचीSavyasācī (ambidextrous archer)
सव्यसाची:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसव्यसाचिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कथम्how
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
भवान्you (honorific)
भवान्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootभवत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

उत्तर उवाच

U
Uttara
V
Vijaya (epithet)
Ś
Śvetavāhana (epithet)
K
Kirīṭī (epithet)
S
Savyasācī (epithet)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the traditional importance of names and epithets as moral and martial credentials: titles are not mere labels but markers of earned qualities (victory, mastery, royal honor, exceptional skill). It frames heroism as accountable to causes—how and why one becomes worthy of renown.

In the Virāṭa episode, Uttara—curious and increasingly attentive—questions the disguised warrior (Arjuna in concealment) about the origins of his celebrated epithets: ‘Vijaya’, ‘Śvetavāhana’, ‘Kirīṭī’, and ‘Savyasācī’, seeking to understand the deeds and distinctions behind them.