Shloka 13

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter

Devanagari script

आभाष्य चैनं मधुरमभीतं तमभीतवत्‌ | प्राह प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठ: स्मितपूर्व समाह्दयत्‌

Transliteration

ābhāṣya cainaṁ madhuram abhītaṁ tam abhītavat | prāha praharatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ smitapūrvaṁ samāhṛdayat ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେଇ ନିର୍ଭୟ ନରେଶଙ୍କୁ ମଧୁର ବାଣୀରେ ସମ୍ବୋଧନ କରି, ଯୋଦ୍ଧାମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥାମା ପ୍ରଥମେ ସ୍ମିତ କଲେ; ପରେ ନିଜେ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିର୍ଭୟ ଭାବେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧକୁ ଆହ୍ୱାନ କରି କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• आभाष्य: having addressed / speaking to
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-भाष्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मधुरम्: sweetly / in sweet words
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभीतम्: fearless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तम्: that (man), him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभीतवत्: like a fearless one
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीतवत्
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (comparison)

• प्राह: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (अह्/ब्रू-समर्थः; √अह् 'to say')
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रहरताम्: of those striking/fighting
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (प्रहरति)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्मितपूर्वम्: with a smile beforehand / smiling first
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मित-पूर्व
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (पूर्वम् as head)

• समाह्वयत्: challenged / called (to battle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वे (समाह्वयति)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśvatthāmā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the heat of war, the verse highlights a code of conduct: a warrior may issue a challenge firmly yet with controlled speech—madhura-vāk—suggesting restraint, composure, and a disciplined courage rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Aśvatthāmā, described as foremost among fighters, addresses a fearless king/opponent with pleasing words, smiles, and then calls him forward—formally inviting or challenging him to engage in battle.