Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

एको ह्ा[रक्षद्‌ भरतानेको भवमतोषयत्‌ | तेनैकेन जिता: सर्वे महीपा हुग्रतेजसा

Transliteration

eko hy arakṣad bharatān eko bhavam atoṣayat | tenaikena jitāḥ sarve mahīpā ugratejasā ||

Translation

ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର କହିଲେ—ସେ ଏକା ଭାରତମାନଙ୍କୁ ରକ୍ଷା କଲା; ଏକା ଭବ (ମହାଦେବ)ଙ୍କୁ ସନ୍ତୁଷ୍ଟ କଲା; ଏବଂ ସେଇ ଏକ ଉଗ୍ରତେଜସ୍ବୀ ବୀର ଦ୍ୱାରା ସମସ୍ତ ରାଜା ପରାଜିତ ହେଲେ।

Word by Word

• एकः: alone, single
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• अरक्षत्: protected
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भरतान्: the Bharatas (Kurus)
• भरतान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एकः: alone
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भवम्: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अतोषयत्: satisfied, pleased
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada, true

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एकेन: by that one alone
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• जिताः: conquered/defeated
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि
• Form: क्त, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• महीपाः: kings, rulers
• महीपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीप
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• उग्रतेजसा: by the fierce-splendored (hero)
• उग्रतेजसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्रतेजस्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

धृतराष्ट उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Bharatas (Kuru lineage)
• Bhava (Śiva)
• mahīpāḥ (kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how extraordinary individual prowess, when joined with devotion (pleasing Bhava/Śiva), can decisively shape outcomes in royal and martial affairs—yet it also implicitly raises an ethical tension: reliance on a single champion can fuel pride and overconfidence in a cause.

What is happening in the narrative?

Dhṛtarāṣṭra recalls and praises a single formidable warrior who (i) protected the Bharatas, (ii) pleased Śiva (Bhava) through his valor/act, and (iii) defeated many kings—framing him as a decisive force in earlier exploits and, by implication, in the present war context of Karṇa Parva.