Mahabharata 11.21.8 — Stree Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 8

अध्याय २१ — गान्धार्या वैकर्तनदर्शनम्

Gāndhārī’s Viewing of Vaikartana/Karṇa

Devanagari script

अनाधुृष्य: परैर्युद्धे शत्रुभिर्मघवानिव । युगान्ताग्निरिवार्चिष्मान्‌ हिमवानिव निश्चल:ः

Transliteration

anādṛṣyaḥ parair yuddhe śatrubhir maghavān iva | yugāntāgnir ivārciṣmān himavān iva niścalaḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: В бою он был недосягаем для других, как Магхаван (Индра) для своих врагов; пылал, словно огонь конца эпохи, и стоял недвижим, как Химаван (Гималаи). Таков был герой Карна—ставший прибежищем для Дурьодханы, сына Дхритараштры,—и вот теперь он лежит убитый на земле, как дерево, сломленное бурей. Этот отрывок подчеркивает трагический переворот войны: даже самый могучий защитник, стойкий и сияющий, бывает повержен, оставляя скорбь, нравственный суд и суровую непостоянность мирской власти.

Word by Word

• अनाधृष्यः: unassailable, unconquerable
• अनाधृष्यः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनाधृष्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परैः: by others (by opponents)
• परैः: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• शत्रुभिः: by enemies
• शत्रुभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मघवता: by Maghavat (Indra); like Indra
• मघवता: Karana
• Type: Noun (Proper epithet)
• Root: मघवत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• युगान्त: end of an age (world-ending time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगान्त
• Form: Masculine, Stem (compound member)

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अर्चिष्मान्: flaming, radiant
• अर्चिष्मान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्चिष्मत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हिमवान्: Himavat (the Himalaya)
• हिमवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun (Proper name)
• Root: हिमवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• निश्चलः: immovable, steady
• निश्चलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• माधव: O Mādhava (Krishna)
• Type: Noun (Vocative, proper epithet)
• Root: माधव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Indra (Maghavān)
• Himavān (Himalaya)
• Karṇa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Duryodhana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the impermanence of strength and status: even one who seems invincible and steadfast can fall. Ethically, it intensifies the Strī-parvan mood of lamentation and reflection—war consumes protectors and protected alike, forcing survivors to confront the moral cost of ambition and enmity.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Karṇa’s former battlefield might through grand similes (Indra-like, end-of-age fire, Himalaya-like) and then states the reversal: Karṇa, who served as Duryodhana’s chief refuge and support, has been slain and lies fallen like a storm-toppled tree.