Shloka 1

Adhyāya 41 — Kṛṣṇa’s Battlefield Briefing and the Renewal of the Great Engagement

Devanagari script

(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १ श्लोक मिलाकर कुल ८८ श्लोक हैं) ता निज: - महाडीनके सिवा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca

madrādhipasyādhirathim mahātmā vaco niśamyāpriyam apratītaḥ |

uvāca śalyaṃ viditaṃ mama etad yathāvidhāv arjunavāsudevau ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: О царь, услышав неприятные слова Шальи, владыки Мадры, высокодушный Карна — сын Адхиратхи — разгневался и обратился к Шалье: «Шалья, мне и без того хорошо известно, во всей полноте, каковы Арджуна и Васудева (Кришна)».

Word by Word

• संजयः: Sanjaya
• संजयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मद्राधिपस्य: of the king of Madra
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्राधिप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अधिरथिम्: to Adhirathi (Karna)
• अधिरथिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिरथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वचः: words, speech
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निशम्य: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Active

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अप्रतीतः: dissatisfied, not pleased
• अप्रतीतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्रतीत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शल्यम्: to Shalya
• शल्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विदितम्: known
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• मम: to me / of me
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• एतत्: this
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यथा: how, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• अविधौ: in (their) manner/way (of conduct)
• अविधौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविधि
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• अर्जुन: Arjuna
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वासुदेवौ: Vasudeva (Krishna) (dual form as in the received text)
• वासुदेवौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Shalya
• Madra
• Karna
• Adhiratha
• Arjuna
• Vasudeva (Krishna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical tension common in the epic: truthful appraisal of greatness (Arjuna and Krishna) can provoke wounded pride. It highlights how ego and honor can obstruct wise counsel even in moments demanding restraint and clarity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Shalya has spoken words that Karna finds unpleasant. Karna, displeased, responds that he already knows well the true stature and prowess of Arjuna and Vasudeva (Krishna), setting up a sharper exchange between them.