Shloka 30

Devanagari script

यदेक: समरे शूरान्‌ सूतपुत्र: प्रतापवान्‌ । यतमानान्‌ परं शक्‍त्या योधयानांश्व धन्विन:

Transliteration

yad ekaḥ samare śūrān sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān | yatamānān paraṁ śaktyā yodhayānāṁś ca dhanvinaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Bagaimanakah mungkin putera sais kereta yang gagah, perkasa dalam keberanian, berdiri seorang diri di medan perang menentang para pahlawan—menentang para pemanah yang mengerah segenap daya dan menekan pertempuran dengan seluruh kekuatan mereka?”

Word by Word

यत्that which

एकःalone, single

समरेin battle

शूरान्heroes, brave warriors

सूतपुत्रःthe charioteer’s son (Karna)

प्रतापवान्mighty, valorous

यत्that which

यतमानान्striving, exerting themselves

परम्greatly, exceedingly / the utmost

शक्त्याwith (his) शक्ति-spear

योधयान्fighting, engaging (them) in battle

अश्वhorse

धन्विनःof the archer

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karna (sūtaputra)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of steadfast valor in battle—single-minded effort and courage even when opposed by many. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between admiration for martial excellence and the tragic cost of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing (with astonishment and emphasis) how Karṇa, famed as the sūtaputra, confronted numerous heroic archers who were fighting at full strength, underscoring Karṇa’s solitary stand and formidable prowess.