Shloka 48

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५७

Arjuna’s targeted advance; Śalya–Karṇa dialogue; interception attempts

Devanagari script

अन्तकप्रतिमो वेगे शक्रतुल्यपराक्रम: । असौ गच्छति कौरव्य द्रौणि: शस्त्रभूतां वर:,“कुरुनन्दन! जो वेगमें यमराज और पराक्रममें इन्द्रके समान है, वह शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ अश्वृत्थामा उधर ही जा रहा है

Transliteration

antakapratimo vege śakratulyaparākramaḥ | asau gacchati kauravya drauṇiḥ śastrabhūtāṁ varaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ— ହେ କୌରବ୍ୟ! ବେଗରେ ଅନ୍ତକ ସମାନ ଓ ପରାକ୍ରମରେ ଶକ୍ରତୁଲ୍ୟ, ଶସ୍ତ୍ରଧାରୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଦ୍ରୋଣି ଅଶ୍ୱତ୍ଥାମା ସେଇ ଦିଗକୁ ଯାଉଛି।

Word by Word

अन्तक-प्रतिमःlike Antaka (Death)

वेगेin speed

शक्र-तुल्य-पराक्रमःhaving valor equal to Śakra (Indra)

असौthat (man), he

गच्छतिgoes

कौरव्यO Kauravya (descendant of Kuru)

द्रौणिःDrauṇi (Aśvatthāmā, son of Droṇa)

शस्त्र-भूतानाम्of those who are armed / weapon-bearers

वरःthe best, excellent

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Kauravya (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Aśvatthāmā (Drauṇi)

Droṇa

Antaka (Death/Yama)

Śakra (Indra)

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 the awe-inspiring scale of martial capability in the epic—speed likened to Death and prowess to Indra—while implicitly reminding that such power in war is morally consequential: greatness in force does not automatically equate to righteousness in use.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Aśvatthāmā, famed as the foremost among armed warriors, is heading toward a particular direction on the battlefield, emphasizing his terrifying momentum and formidable strength.