Shloka 21

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection

Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa

Devanagari script

तमापतन्तं सहसा किरीटी वैकर्तनं वै तरसाभिपत्य । प्रगृह्य वेग न्‍्यपतज्जवेन नागं गरुत्मानिव चित्रपक्ष:

Transliteration

tam āpatantaṃ sahasā kirīṭī vaikartanaṃ vai tarasābhipatya | pragṛhya vegaṃ nyapatajjavena nāgaṃ garutmān iva citrapakṣaḥ ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: Увидев, как Карна (сын Сурьи) внезапно бросается в атаку, увенчанный диадемой Арджуна рванулся навстречу с силой. Подхватив его напор, он стремительно обрушился на противника — словно Гаруда с пестрыми крыльями, пикирующий на змея. Сцена утверждает долг воина: без колебаний встречать надвигающийся удар и отвечать на ярость выверенным мастерством, а не страхом.

Word by Word

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

• आपतन्तम्: falling/charging down (upon)
• आपतन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Participle
• Root: आपत् (धातु: पत्) / आपतन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular, Present (vartamana), Parasmaipada (active sense)

• सहसा: suddenly, at once
• सहसा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा

• किरीटी: the diadem-wearer (Arjuna)
• किरीटी: Karta
• Type: Noun (epithet)
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वैकर्तनम्: Vaikartana (Karna)
• वैकर्तनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun (proper name/epithet)
• Root: वैकर्तन (कर्ण)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• तरसा: with speed/force
• तरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अभिपत्य: having rushed at/attacked
• अभिपत्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Gerund
• Root: अभि-√पत्
• Form: true

• प्रगृह्य: having seized/grasped
• प्रगृह्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Gerund
• Root: प्र-√ग्रह्
• Form: true

• वेगम्: speed, momentum
• वेगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न्यपतत्: fell upon, swooped down
• न्यपतत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√पत्
• Form: Imperfect (laṅ), Past, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जवेन: with swiftness
• जवेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• नागम्: a serpent
• नागम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गरुत्मान्: Garuda
• गरुत्मान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुत्मत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• चित्रपक्षः: having variegated wings
• चित्रपक्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र-पक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (Kirīṭī)
• Karṇa (Vaikartana)
• Garuḍa (Garutmān)
• Nāga (serpent)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: when confronted by sudden aggression, a warrior must respond decisively and with disciplined strength. Courage here is not reckless rage but controlled readiness to protect honor and duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karṇa charges suddenly; Arjuna, identified as Kirīṭī, surges forward and attacks with great speed. The poet compares Arjuna’s swift assault to Garuḍa swooping down upon a serpent.