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Shloka 17

Kuntī–Sūrya-saṃvāda: Autonomy, Reputation, and the Promise of Karṇa

अकृताह्लिकमेवैनं जिघांसुर्जितकाशिनम्‌ । शरैर्जघान संक्रुद्ध: कृतसंज्ञोडथ लक्ष्मण:,इन्द्रजित्‌ विजयके उललाससे सुशोभित हो रहा था। अभी उसने नित्यकर्म भी नहीं किया था, उसी अवस्थामें सचेत हुए लक्ष्मणने कुपित होकर उसे मार डालनेकी इच्छासे उसपर बाणोंद्वारा प्रहार करना आरम्भ किया

akṛtāhlikam evainaṁ jighāṁsur jitakāśinam | śarair jaghāna saṁkruddhaḥ kṛtasaṁjño 'tha lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

മാർകണ്ഡേയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—വിജയോന്മാദത്തിൽ ദീപ്തനായ കാശീജേതാവായ ഇന്ദ്രജിത് അന്നും നിത്യകർമ്മം ചെയ്തിട്ടില്ലായിരുന്നു. അപ്പോൾ ബോധം തെളിഞ്ഞ ലക്ഷ്മണൻ ക്രോധംകൊണ്ട് ജ്വലിച്ച്, അവനെ വധിക്കണമെന്ന ഉദ്ദേശത്തോടെ, അമ്പുകളുടെ മഴപോലെ അവന്റെ മേൽ പ്രഹാരം തുടങ്ങി.

अकृताह्लिकम्one who has not performed the daily rite
अकृताह्लिकम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअकृत-आह्लिक (आह्लिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
एनम्him
एनम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootइदम् (एतद्)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
जिघांसुःdesiring to kill
जिघांसुः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहन् (धातु) → जिघांसु (desiderative participle)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जितकाशिनम्the conqueror of Kāśi (or: one who has conquered Kāśi)
जितकाशिनम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootजित-काशिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
जघानstruck/slew
जघान:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular
संक्रुद्धःenraged
संक्रुद्धः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसं-क्रुध् → संक्रुद्ध (past passive participle)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृतसंज्ञःhaving regained consciousness/awareness
कृतसंज्ञः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकृत-संज्ञ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अथthen/now
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
लक्ष्मणःLakṣmaṇa
लक्ष्मणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलक्ष्मण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

M
Mārkaṇḍeya
L
Lakṣmaṇa
J
Jitakāśin (epithet: conqueror of Kāśī)
K
Kāśī
Ś
śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights a tension central to dharma: daily ritual obligations are important, yet in moments of urgent threat a warrior may prioritize immediate protective action. By noting the enemy’s neglected rites, the text also hints at moral vulnerability and the shifting balance between ritual propriety and battlefield necessity.

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Lakṣmaṇa, having regained consciousness, becomes furious and begins shooting arrows at a formidable opponent described as the conqueror of Kāśī, who at that moment has not yet performed his daily rites.