Shloka 49

Devanagari script

यथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मृत्योर्भीतानि मारिष । धर्ममेवोपलीयन्ते कर्मवन्ति हि यानि च,माननीय नरेश! जैसे कर्म करनेवाले सब जीव मृत्युसे डरकर धर्मकी ही शरण लेते हैं, उसी प्रकार आपके पुत्र महामना पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनके भयसे महाधनुर्धर कर्णकी ही ओटमें छिपने लगे थे

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

yathā sarvāṇi bhūtāni mṛtyor bhītāni māriṣa |

dharmam evopalīyante karmavanti hi yāni ca ||

Translation

Санджая сказал: «О досточтимый, как все живые существа, связанные своими деяниями, страшась Смерти, прибегают к Дхарме, так и твои сыновья, устрашённые Арджуной — высокодушным сыном Панду, — прятались за Карной, великим лучником, ища у него защиты».

Word by Word

यथाjust as

सर्वाणिall

भूतानिbeings, creatures

मृत्योःfrom death

भीतानिafraid

मारिषO venerable one (sir)

धर्मम्dharma, righteousness

एवindeed, only

उपलीयन्तेtake refuge in, resort to

कर्मवन्तिendowed with action; active

हिfor, indeed

यानिwhich

चand

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied addressee: māriṣa)

Mṛtyu (Death, personified concept)

Dharma

Arjuna

Karṇa

Kauravas (implied: 'your sons')

Pāṇḍavas (implied via Arjuna)

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 uses a moral analogy: as beings instinctively seek Dharma when threatened by Death, warriors likewise seek a righteous or powerful refuge when overwhelmed by fear. It highlights how fear drives the search for protection, and frames ‘taking shelter’ as a universal response—ethically pointing to Dharma as the highest refuge.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava forces, intimidated by Arjuna’s prowess, began to cluster behind Karṇa for protection—treating Karṇa as their shield against Arjuna’s onslaught.