Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

सर्वायुधमहामात्रं विजयं नाम तद्धनुः । इन्द्रार्थ प्रियकामेन निर्मित विश्वकर्मणा,मेरे धनुषका नाम विजय है। यह समस्त आयुधोंमें श्रेष्ठ है। इसे इन्द्रका प्रिय चाहनेवाले विश्वकर्माने उन्हींके लिये बनाया था

Transliteration

sarvāyudha-mahāmātraṃ vijayaṃ nāma tad dhanuḥ | indrārtha-priya-kāmena nirmitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā ||

Translation

Карна сказал: «Этот лук зовётся Виджая. Он превосходит все оружия. Его выковал Вишвакарман для Индры, желая угодить ему».

Word by Word

सर्वायुधमहामात्रम्the great measure/standard among all weapons (i.e., the supreme weapon)

विजयम्Vijaya (name)

नामname

तत्that

धनुःbow

इन्द्रार्थम्for Indra's sake / for Indra

प्रियकामेनby one desiring to please (Indra)

निर्मितम्made/constructed

विश्वकर्मणाby Vishvakarman

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

Karna

Vijaya (bow)

Indra

Viśvakarman

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 that extraordinary martial instruments gain authority from their lineage—divine maker and intended patron—and that intention (the wish to please) can be a driving force behind acts of creation, even in a context as morally fraught as war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna identifies and praises his bow ‘Vijaya,’ declaring it supreme among weapons and stating its origin: it was crafted by the divine artisan Viśvakarman for Indra, emphasizing the bow’s exalted provenance.