Shloka 3

Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)

Devanagari script

एको निवातकवचानहनद्‌ दिव्यकार्मुक: । एक: किरातरूपेण स्थितं शर्वमयोधयत्‌

Transliteration

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca |

eko nivātakavacān ahanad divya-kārmukaḥ |

ekaḥ kirāta-rūpeṇa sthitaṃ śarvam ayodhayat ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ଦିବ୍ୟ ଧନୁ ଧାରଣ କରି ସେ ଏକା ନିବାତକବଚମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂହାର କଲା; ଏବଂ କିରାତରୂପ ଧାରଣ କରି ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ଶର୍ବ (ଶିବ) ସହିତ ମଧ୍ୟ ଏକା ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କଲା।

Word by Word

• एकः: alone; one (person)
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निवातकवचान्: the Nivātakavacas (a class of demons)
• निवातकवचान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवातकवच
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अहनत्: slew; killed
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

• दिव्यकार्मुकः: having a divine bow; (one) with a divine bow
• दिव्यकार्मुकः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्यकार्मुक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• एकः: alone; one (person)
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• किरातरूपेण: in the form of a Kirāta (hunter)
• किरातरूपेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरातरूप
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• स्थितम्: standing; stationed
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शर्वम्: Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अयोधयत्: fought (with); engaged in battle
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), causative, 3rd, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Nivātakavacas
• Kirāta (guise)
• Śarva (Śiva)
• divya-kārmuka (celestial bow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Extraordinary power in the epic is portrayed as arising from disciplined effort and worthiness: a hero’s single-minded resolve, coupled with divine testing and grace, becomes the ethical foundation for wielding celestial weapons responsibly in dharmic war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra recalls renowned exploits attributed to Arjuna: he destroyed the Nivātakavaca demons single-handedly with a divine bow, and he also fought Śiva, who appeared in the form of a Kirāta, in a celebrated divine encounter that tested and affirmed his valor.