Shloka 14

Nārada’s Account of the Kaliṅga Svayaṃvara: Duryodhana’s Seizure and Karṇa’s Escort

Devanagari script

तमन्वगाद्‌ रथी खड््‌गी बद्धगोधाडुलित्रवान्‌ | कर्ण: शस्त्रभृतां श्रेष्ठ: पृष्ठत: पुरुषर्षभ

Transliteration

tam anvagād rathī khaḍgī baddha-godhāṅgulitravān | karṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ puruṣarṣabha puruṣottama ||

Translation

Disse Nārada: Então Karṇa — o mais eminente entre os portadores de armas — seguiu atrás. Montado em sua carruagem, com a espada na mão e as braçadeiras e proteções dos dedos bem presas, foi no encalço de Duryodhana. A cena realça a lealdade firme e a prontidão marcial, ainda que antecipe a tensão ética de servir a uma causa que pode ser adharma.

Word by Word

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

• अन्वगात्: followed
• अन्वगात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम्
• Form: Aorist, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• रथी: the charioteer/warrior on a chariot
• रथी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• खड्गी: sword-bearing
• खड्गी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बद्ध: bound/fastened
• बद्ध: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• गोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्: wearing iguana-skin finger-guards (gloves)
• गोधाङ्गुलित्रवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोधा + अङ्गुलित्र + वत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शस्त्रभृताम्: of weapon-bearers
• शस्त्रभृताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रभृत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पृष्ठतः: from behind/behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ
• Form: Adverb

• पुरुषर्षभ: O bull among men
• पुरुषर्षभ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पुरुषोत्तम: O best of men
• पुरुषोत्तम: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Karna
• Duryodhana
• chariot (ratha)
• sword (khaḍga)
• finger-guards/gauntlets (aṅgulitra)
• iguana-hide protective gear (godhā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral complexity of loyalty: Karṇa’s exemplary martial discipline and steadfast following of his ally show commitment and readiness, yet invite reflection on whether devotion to a person should be subordinated to devotion to dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada narrates that Karṇa, fully armed and mounted on his chariot, proceeds behind Duryodhana, indicating that he is accompanying and supporting him in a tense, action-oriented moment.