Shloka 36

कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा

Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying

Devanagari script

सो5तिविद्धो महेष्वास: कर्णेन बलिनां वर:

Transliteration

so 'tividdho maheṣvāsaḥ karṇena balināṃ varaḥ

Translation

ആ മഹാധനുര്ധാരി—ബലവാന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ—കർണ്ണനാൽ കഠിനമായി കുത്തേറ്റു।

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अतिविद्धः: pierced through / grievously wounded
• अतिविद्धः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिविद्ध (वि + √व्यध्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेष्वासः: the great bowman
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्णेन: by Karna
• कर्णेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• बलिनाम्: of the strong (men)
• बलिनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: the best
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-dharma: excellence in arms and steadfastness in combat bring swift consequences, where valor meets inevitable suffering, and duty is enacted amid the harsh realities of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a renowned archer—described as foremost among the strong—has been severely struck (pierced) by Karṇa, indicating Karṇa’s dominance in that exchange and a turning point for the wounded warrior.