Shloka 38

कर्णवधार्थं धनञ्जयस्य प्रतिज्ञा — Arjuna’s resolve for Karṇa’s defeat

Devanagari script

प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञां श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथि:

Transliteration

pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ

Translation

त्यानंतर शुद्धीवर येताच श्वेत अश्वांचा कृष्ण-सारथी रणगर्जनेच्या गदारोळातही स्वतःला सावरून स्थिर झाला। हा प्रसंग संकटात धैर्य व संयम—मार्गदर्शकास शोभणारे गुण—दर्शवितो।

Word by Word

• प्रतिलभ्य: having regained/obtained back
• प्रतिलभ्य: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिलभ् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थः)

• संज्ञाम्: consciousness; awareness
• संज्ञाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• श्वेताश्वः: Śvetāśva (the white-horsed one / named Śvetāśva)
• श्वेताश्वः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेताश्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृष्णसारथिः: Kṛṣṇa's charioteer
• कृष्णसारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्णसारथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛṣṇa (as sārathi/charioteer)
• white horses (śvetāśvāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in violent and disorienting circumstances, a leader or guide must recover steadiness quickly; regaining clarity (saṃjñā) and composure is presented as a dharmic strength that enables right action and protection of others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa, identified by the epithet ‘white-horsed’ and as the charioteer, regains consciousness after a moment of impairment or shock, indicating a return to control and readiness to continue guiding the chariot in battle.