Shloka 373

Devanagari script

प्रतिपक्षग्रहं चक्र: कर्णार्जुनसमागमे । मान्यवर! सब लोग परस्पर भिन्न विचार व्यक्त करते सुनायी देते थे। देवता

Transliteration

pratipakṣagrahaṁ cakraḥ karṇārjunasamāgame |

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Ketika Karṇa dan Arjuna berhadapan, makhluk-makhluk yang berhimpun pun memilih pihak—ada yang menyokong, ada yang menentang. Di segenap penjuru kedengaran pendapat yang berbeza-beza; bahkan para dewa, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Piśācas, Nāgas dan Rākṣasas turut berbaris dalam dua kem yang bertentangan tentang pertarungan Karṇa dan Arjuna. Pemandangan itu menegaskan bahawa satu perbuatan perang sahaja mampu memecah-belahkan dunia, menarik setiap golongan makhluk ke dalam penghakiman dan kepartian.

Word by Word

• प्रतिपक्षग्रहम्: taking of sides (acceptance of the opposing/own side)
• प्रतिपक्षग्रहम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपक्षग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• चक्रुः: they made / they took up
• चक्रुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• कर्णार्जुनसमागमे: in the encounter/meeting of Karna and Arjuna
• कर्णार्जुनसमागमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णार्जुनसमागम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Arjuna
• Devatās
• Dānavas
• Gandharvas
• Piśācas
• Nāgas
• Rākṣasas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how momentous moral and martial confrontations generate polarization: even exalted and fearsome beings adopt partisan views. It suggests that war is not merely physical combat but a contest of reputations, perceived righteousness, and destiny, witnessed and judged by the wider cosmos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that as Karṇa and Arjuna meet in battle, the surrounding hosts—gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Piśācas, Nāgas, and Rākṣasas—split into supporters and opponents, voicing differing expectations and loyalties regarding the duel.