Shloka 17

कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62

Devanagari script

क्षीणशस्त्रास्त्रकवच: क्षीणबाणो विबाणधि: । श्रान्तसारथिवाहश्न च्छन्नो<स्त्रैररिभिस्तथा

Transliteration

kṣīṇaśastrāstrakavacaḥ kṣīṇabāṇo vibāṇadhiḥ | śrāntasārathivāhaś ca channo 'strair aribhis tathā ||

Translation

Disse Sañjaya: Ele fora despojado de armas, projéteis e armadura; suas flechas se esgotaram e sua aljava ficou vazia. Seu cocheiro e seus cavalos estavam exaustos, e ele próprio se via coberto—cercado por todos os lados—pelas armas do inimigo.

Word by Word

क्षीणशस्त्रास्त्रकवचःwhose weapons, missiles, and armor are exhausted

क्षीणबाणःwhose arrows are exhausted

विबाणधिःwith an empty quiver

श्रान्तसारथिवाहःwhose charioteer and horses are weary

चand

छन्नःcovered, enveloped

अस्त्रैःby weapons/missiles

अरिभिःby enemies

तथाthus, in that manner

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

enemies (ari)

weapons (śastra, astra)

armor (kavaca)

arrows (bāṇa)

quiver (bāṇadhi)

charioteer (sārathi)

horses (vāha)

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 steadfastness under extreme depletion—when weapons, protection, and support fail. In the Mahabharata’s war-ethic, true valor includes endurance and composure amid overwhelming pressure, not merely offensive success.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior in dire straits: weapons and armor are lost or spent, arrows are exhausted, the quiver is empty, and even the charioteer and horses are worn out, while enemy missiles continue to rain down, surrounding and covering him.