Shloka 33

Devanagari script

अद्य कर्ण हते कृष्ण धार्तराष्ट्र: सराजका:

Transliteration

adya karṇa hate kṛṣṇa dhārtarāṣṭraḥ sa-rājakāḥ

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Kṛṣṇa, pada hari ini, setelah Karṇa gugur, putera-putera Dhṛtarāṣṭra—bersama raja-raja sekutu mereka—hancur semangat dan kekuatannya.”

Word by Word

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक)

• कर्णे: when/with respect to Karna (in Karna)
• कर्णे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• हते: slain (when slain)
• हते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन्
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• कृष्ण: O Krishna
• कृष्ण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• धार्तराष्ट्राः: the sons of Dhritarashtra (Kauravas)
• धार्तराष्ट्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्तराष्ट्र
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सराजकाः: together with their king(s)
• सराजकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-राजक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kṛṣṇa
• Karṇa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons (Kauravas)
• Kings (allied rulers)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how a cause rooted in adharma becomes fragile: when its main support (Karṇa) falls, the wider coalition (Dhārtarāṣṭras with allied kings) loses coherence. Ethically, it hints that power built on pride and injustice cannot endure, especially when sustained by dependence on a single heroic pillar rather than righteous conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Kṛṣṇa that Karṇa has been killed. This announcement marks a decisive shift in the war: the Kaurava side, along with its allied kings, is effectively destabilized, and the end of their resistance is imminent.