Shloka 88

Devanagari script

ततस्त्रिभिस्तं त्रिदशाधिपोपमं शरैरबिभिदाधिरथिर्धनंजयम्‌ । शरांश्व पञ्च ज्वलितानिवोरगान्‌ प्रवेशयामास जिघांसयाच्युतम्‌

Transliteration

tatas tribhis taṁ tridaśādhipopamaṁ śarair abibhidādhirathir dhanaṁjayam | śarāṁś ca pañca jvalitān ivoragān praveśayāmāsa jighāṁsayācyutam ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତାପରେ ଅଧିରଥପୁତ୍ର କର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଦେବାଧିପ ସମାନ ଧନଞ୍ଜୟ ଅର୍ଜୁନଙ୍କୁ ତିନିଟି ଶରରେ ବିଦ୍ଧ କଲେ। ଏବଂ ଅଚ୍ୟୁତ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣଙ୍କୁ ମାରିବା ଇଚ୍ଛାରେ, ଜ୍ୱଳନ୍ତ ସର୍ପ ସଦୃଶ ପାଞ୍ଚଟି ଶର ତାଙ୍କ ଦେହରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରାଇଲେ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: any, Instrumental, Plural

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• त्रिदशाधिपोपमम्: comparable to the lord of the gods (Indra)
• त्रिदशाधिपोपमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिदशाधिप-उपम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अबिभिदत्: pierced/split
• अबिभिदत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद्
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अधिरथिः: Adhirathi (Karna)
• अधिरथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिरथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धनंजयम्: Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: any, Accusative, Plural

• ज्वलितान्: blazing
• ज्वलितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उरगान्: serpents
• उरगान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्रवेशयामास: caused to enter/shot into
• प्रवेशयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश्
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जिघांसया: with the desire to kill
• जिघांसया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिघांसया
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• अच्युतम्: Achyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Karna (Adhiratha-putra)
• Arjuna (Dhananjaya)
• Krishna (Achyuta)
• Indra (implied by tridaśādhipa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in the fury of war, the drive to win can push warriors toward extreme acts—here, even aiming at Krishna. It invites reflection on restraint (dama) and discernment (viveka) amid conflict, and on how dharma is tested when anger and rivalry dominate.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna strikes Arjuna with three arrows. Then, intending to kill Krishna, he shoots five more arrows into Krishna’s body, described as entering like blazing serpents—an image emphasizing speed, heat, and lethal intent.