Shloka 126

Devanagari script

ध्वजमाधिरथेश्छित्त्वा सूतम भ्यहनच्छरै: । भरतश्रेष्ठ! तत्पश्चात्‌ महाबाहु भीमसेनने दो छुरोंसे कर्णकी ध्वजा काटकर अपने बाणोंद्वारा उसके सारथिको भी मार डाला

Transliteration

dhvajam ādhiratheś chittvā sūtam abhyahanac charaiḥ | bharataśreṣṭha! tatpaścāt mahābāhuḥ bhīmasenaḥ ||

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಆಧಿರಥ ಕರ್ಣನ ಧ್ವಜವನ್ನು ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ, ಭೀಮಸೇನನು ಬಾಣವೃಷ್ಟಿಯಿಂದ ಅವನ ಸಾರಥಿಯನ್ನೂ ಸಂಹರಿಸಿದನು. ಹೇ ಭರತಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ! ಯುದ್ಧದ ಕಠೋರ ನೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶತ್ರುವಿನ ಪರಾಕ್ರಮಚಿಹ್ನಗಳನ್ನೂ ಸಹಾಯಕಬಲವನ್ನೂ ನಾಶಮಾಡುವುದು ಕೂಡ ತಂತ್ರದ ಒಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆಯಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

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

• आधिरथेश्छित्त्वा: having cut (the banner) of Ādhirathi (Karna)
• आधिरथेश्छित्त्वा: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: आधिरथि + छिद्
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा), Parasmaipada (usage), Non-finite

• सूतम्: charioteer
• सूतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभ्यहनत्: struck/slew
• अभ्यहनत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + हन्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Ādhiratha (Karna)
• sūta (Karna’s charioteer)
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim pragmatism of battlefield conduct: victory often depends on disabling an opponent’s support systems and symbols of command. It also reflects the tension within kṣatriya-dharma—courage and effectiveness in war can demand harsh actions whose moral weight is carried by the larger context of a dharma-conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the fighting, Bhīma severs Karna’s banner (dhvaja), then immediately attacks and kills Karna’s charioteer with arrows. Sañjaya reports this to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, emphasizing the rapid sequence and intensity of the encounter.