Shloka 10

अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः

Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath

Devanagari script

तथा निवातकवचा: कालखज्जाश्व दानवा: । दैवतैरप्यवध्यास्ते एकेन युधि पातिता:,निवातकवच और कालखज्ज आदि दानवगण तो देवताओंके लिये भी अवध्य थे, किंतु अर्जुनने अकेले ही उन सबको युद्धमें मार गिराया है

Transliteration

tathā nivātakavacāḥ kālakhajjāśva-dānavāḥ | daivatair apy avadhyās te ekena yudhi pātitāḥ ||

Translation

Kṛpa berkata: “Demikian juga para Dānava bernama Nivātakavaca dan Kālakhañjāśva—musuh yang dikatakan kebal bahkan terhadap para dewa—namun tetap ditumbangkan di medan perang oleh Arjuna seorang diri.”

Word by Word

तथाthus; likewise

निवातकवचाःthe Nivātakavacas (a class of demons)

कालखज्जाश्वKālakhajjāśva (proper name)

दानवाःdemons; Dānavas

दैवतैःby the gods

अपिeven; also

अवध्याःunkillable; not to be slain

तेthey

एकेनby one (man); by a single (warrior)

युधिin battle

पातिताःfelled; slain; caused to fall

Speaker

कृप उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kṛpa

Arjuna

Nivātakavacas

Kālakhañjāśva

Dānavas

Devas

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 that extraordinary power in war is not merely brute strength: when a warrior acts with disciplined resolve and dharmic alignment, even opponents deemed 'unslayable' can be overcome—suggesting the supremacy of righteous effort supported by divine order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛpa is praising Arjuna’s proven martial greatness by citing earlier feats: Arjuna single-handedly defeated the Nivātakavacas and Kālakhañjāśva Dānavas, who were reputed to be invulnerable even to the gods.