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Shloka 29

धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation

असिश्रि: पट्टिशै: शूलैर्गदाभिश्न महाबला: । सूतपुत्रं जिघांसन्त: समनन्‍्तात्‌ पर्यवाकिरन्‌,उन महाबली वीरोंने सूतपुत्र कर्णके वधकी इच्छा रखकर उसके ऊपर चारों ओरसे तलवार, पट्टिश, शूल और गदाओंद्वारा प्रहार आरम्भ किया

asiśriḥ paṭṭiśaiḥ śūlair gadābhiś ca mahābalāḥ | sūtaputraṃ jighāṃsantaḥ samantāt paryavākiran ||

ആ മഹാബലവാന്മാരായ യോദ്ധാക്കൾ സൂതപുത്രനായ കർണ്ണനെ വധിക്കണമെന്നാഗ്രഹിച്ച് അവനെ ചുറ്റുമുറ്റി വാളുകൾ, പട്ടിശങ്ങൾ, ശൂലങ്ങൾ, ഗദകൾ എന്നിവകൊണ്ട് പ്രഹരിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി.

असिभिःwith swords
असिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअसि
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
ऋष्टिभिःwith spears/lances
ऋष्टिभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootऋष्टि
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
पट्टिशैःwith battle-axes
पट्टिशैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपट्टिश
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
शूलैःwith pikes/tridents
शूलैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशूल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
गदाभिःwith maces
गदाभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootगदा
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महाबलाःmighty/very strong (men)
महाबलाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाबल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सूतपुत्रम्the charioteer’s son (Karna)
सूतपुत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसूतपुत्र
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जिघांसन्तःwishing to kill
जिघांसन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
Formशतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
समन्तात्from all sides
समन्तात्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसमन्तात्
पर्यवाकिरन्they showered/covered (him) all around
पर्यवाकिरन्:
TypeVerb
Rootपरि + अव + कृ
Formलङ् (imperfect), Parasmaipada, Third, Plural

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
K
Karṇa (Sūtaputra)
S
sword (asi)
P
paṭṭiśa (battle-axe)
Ś
śūla (spear)
G
gadā (mace)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata concern: in war, intent (jighāṃsā—desire to kill) and method (many attacking one) raise ethical questions about fairness and dharma, even when the setting is a battlefield where violence is expected.

A group of powerful warriors closes in on Karṇa and attacks him from every direction, striking with multiple kinds of weapons—swords, battle-axes, spears, and maces—showing an intense, coordinated attempt to kill him.