Shloka 456

द्रोणकर्णयोः निशि संप्रहारः — Night Engagement with Droṇa and Karṇa

Devanagari script

सूर्यास्तमनमिच्छन्तो लोहितायति भास्करे । वे श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे सिंधुराज जयद्रथको पीछे करके सूर्यास्त होनेकी इच्छा और प्रतीक्षा करने लगे। उस समय सूर्य लाल-से हो चले

Transliteration

sūryāstamanam icchanto lohitāyati bhāskare |

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಭಾಸ್ಕರನು ಕೆಂಪಾಗತೊಡಗಿದಾಗ, ಅವರು ಸೂರ್ಯಾಸ್ತವನ್ನು ಬಯಸಿ ಅದರ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತರು. ಸಿಂಧುರಾಜ ಜಯದ್ರಥನನ್ನು ಹಿಂದೆ ಕವಚವಾಗಿ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು, ಸಂಧ್ಯಾವೇಳೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನನ್ನೂ ಅರ್ಜುನನನ್ನೂ ಸಂಹರಿಸುವ ಕ್ರೂರ ಯುಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಅವರು ಕಟ್ಟಿದರು.

Word by Word

• सूर्यास्तमनम्: sunset
• सूर्यास्तमनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्यास्तमन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इच्छन्तः: wishing/desiring
• इच्छन्तः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present (Vartamana), Plural, Masculine, Nominative, Parasmaipada, Shatr (present active participle)

• लोहितायति: becomes red / turns reddish
• Type: Verb
• Root: लोहिताय
• Form: Present (Vartamana), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, Indicative

• भास्करे: in the sun (when the sun)
• भास्करे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sūrya (Bhāskara)
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Arjuna
• Jayadratha (Sindhurāja)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how intention (icchā) shapes action in war: when victory becomes the sole aim, even time and circumstance (sunset) are exploited, and ethical restraint can be sidelined. It implicitly contrasts dharmic conduct with opportunistic calculation.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the sun turns red near sunset, the opposing warriors wait for dusk, arranging Jayadratha to the rear and seeking a moment to strike at Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna. The line sets the atmosphere and signals a tactical, time-sensitive move on the battlefield.