Shloka 25

Adhyāya 2: Nārada’s Disclosure—Karṇa’s Training and the Brahmin’s Curse (Śānti-parva)

Devanagari script

) १(५०८४०००५. ् * हे (३६.४) झ्ल ततश्नक्रे महीग्रस्ते मूर्धानं ते विचेतस: । पातयिष्यति विक्रम्य शत्रुर्गच्छ नराधम

Transliteration

tataḥ śakre mahīgraste mūrdhānaṁ te vicetasaḥ | pātayiṣyati vikramya śatrur gaccha narādhama ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ, ഹേ ഇന്ദ്രാ! നീ ഭൂമിയിൽ വീണു ബോധമറ്റവനുപോലെ കിടക്കുമ്പോൾ, നിന്റെ ശത്രു പരാക്രമത്തോടെ മുന്നേറി നിന്റെ ശിരസ് വെട്ടി താഴെയിടും. പോക, ഹേ നരാധമാ—വിവേകം നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്തി നിയന്ത്രണമില്ലാതെ പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നവന്റെ ഗതി ഇതുതന്നെ.

Word by Word

• he: O (vocative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas

• śakre: when/with Śakra (Indra)
• śakre: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• mahī-graste: when (he is) seized by the earth / earth-swallowed
• mahī-graste: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahī-grasta
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• mūrdhānam: head
• mūrdhānam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• te: your
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tvad
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• vicetasaḥ: O senseless one / O one bereft of understanding
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicetas
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• pātayiṣyati: will cause to fall / will strike down
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada, true

• vikramya: having advanced/stepped forth; exerting prowess
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-kram
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund)

• śatruḥ: the enemy
• śatruḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• gaccha: go
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam
• Form: Imperative (Loṭ), 2nd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• narādhama: O lowest of men
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara-adhama
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• śatru (enemy)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Loss of discernment (vicetasaḥ) and arrogant, unrestrained action lead to disgrace and ruin; ethical self-control and clear judgment are implied as the safeguard for rulers and warriors.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada addresses Śakra (Indra) in a sharp warning: if he persists in a misguided course, an enemy will overpower him, cast him to the ground, and humiliate him—an admonition framed as a prediction of consequences.