Shloka 373

Devanagari script

प्रतिपक्षग्रहं चक्र: कर्णार्जुनसमागमे । मान्यवर! सब लोग परस्पर भिन्न विचार व्यक्त करते सुनायी देते थे। देवता, दानव, गन्धर्व, पिशाच, नाग और राक्षस--इन सबने कर्ण और अर्जुनके युद्धके विषयमें पक्ष और विपक्ष ग्रहण कर लिया

Transliteration

pratipakṣagrahaṁ cakraḥ karṇārjunasamāgame |

Translation

ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— “ಕರ್ಣ ಮತ್ತು ಅರ್ಜುನ ಮುಖಾಮುಖಿಯಾದಾಗ ಸಮವಾಯಗೊಂಡ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಪಕ್ಷ-ವಿಪಕ್ಷಗಳನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದರು. ಎಲ್ಲೆಡೆ ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಗಳು ಕೇಳಿಬಂದವು. ದೇವರು, ದಾನವರು, ಗಂಧರ್ವರು, ಪಿಶಾಚರು, ನಾಗರು ಮತ್ತು ರಾಕ್ಷಸರು—ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಕರ್ಣ-ಅರ್ಜುನ ಯುದ್ಧದ ಕುರಿತು ತಮ್ಮ ತಮ್ಮ ಪಾಳಯವನ್ನು ಆರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡರು।”

Word by Word

• प्रतिपक्षग्रहम्: taking of sides (acceptance of the opposing/own side)
• प्रतिपक्षग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपक्षग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रुः: they made / they took up
• चक्रुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• कर्णार्जुनसमागमे: in the encounter/meeting of Karna and Arjuna
• कर्णार्जुनसमागमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णार्जुनसमागम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Arjuna
• Devatās
• Dānavas
• Gandharvas
• Piśācas
• Nāgas
• Rākṣasas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how momentous moral and martial confrontations generate polarization: even exalted and fearsome beings adopt partisan views. It suggests that war is not merely physical combat but a contest of reputations, perceived righteousness, and destiny, witnessed and judged by the wider cosmos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that as Karṇa and Arjuna meet in battle, the surrounding hosts—gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Piśācas, Nāgas, and Rākṣasas—split into supporters and opponents, voicing differing expectations and loyalties regarding the duel.