Shloka 20

Droṇa’s Defensive Stand and Abhimanyu Commissioned to Breach the Cakravyūha (द्रोणानीक-प्रतिरोधः; सौभद्र-नियोजनम्)

Devanagari script

कर्णदु:शासनकृपैर्वृतो राजा महारथै: । देवराजोपम: श्रीमाञ्छवेतच्छत्राभिसंवृत:,उसके ऊपर श्वेतच्छत्र तना हुआ था। वह कर्ण, दुःशासन तथा कृपाचार्य आदि महारथियोंसे घिरकर देवराज इन्द्रके समान शोभा पा रहा था

Transliteration

karṇa-duḥśāsana-kṛpaiḥ vṛto rājā mahārathaiḥ | devarājopamaḥ śrīmān śvetacchatrābhisaṃvṛtaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Raja itu dikelilingi para maharathi—Karṇa, Duḥśāsana dan Kṛpa—dan di atasnya terangkat payung diraja putih. Maka tampaklah baginda berseri-seri laksana Indra, raja para dewa.

Word by Word

• कर्ण-दुःशासन-कृपैः: by Karna, Duhshasana, and Kripa
• कर्ण-दुःशासन-कृपैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण + दुःशासन + कृप
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (वरणे) → वृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महा-रथैः: by great chariot-warriors
• महा-रथैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• देव-राज-उपमः: like the king of the gods (Indra)
• देव-राज-उपमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवराज + उपम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रीमान्: splendid, illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्वेत-छत्र-अभिसंवृतः: covered/overshadowed by a white parasol
• श्वेत-छत्र-अभिसंवृतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + छत्र + अभिसंवृत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Duḥśāsana
• Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)
• the king (Duryodhana)
• Indra (Devarāja)
• white parasol (śvetacchatra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward symbols of sovereignty (like the white parasol) and the presence of powerful allies can create an aura of divine majesty; ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between appearance of greatness and the righteousness (dharma) of the cause being served.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Kaurava king (Duryodhana) being escorted and protected by leading warriors—Karṇa, Duḥśāsana, and Kṛpācārya—while a white parasol is held over him, making him look splendid like Indra on the battlefield.