Shloka 43

कर्णभीमयुद्धम्

Karna–Bhīma Combat Report

Devanagari script

विरथं तं समालोक्य व्यायुधं च विशेषत:

Transliteration

virathaṃ taṃ samālokya vyāyudhaṃ ca viśeṣataḥ

Translation

विरथं तं समालोक्य व्यायुधं च विशेषतः॥

Word by Word

• विरथम्: without a chariot, chariotless
• विरथम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• समालोक्य: having seen, having observed
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-लोक्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• व्यायुधम्: weaponless, without weapons
• व्यायुधम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यायुध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विशेषतः: especially, particularly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• chariot
• weapons

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral tension that arises when a warrior is seen chariotless and disarmed: battlefield power is unstable, and dharma is tested most sharply in how one treats an exposed opponent—whether with restraint and honor or with opportunistic violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports an observation on the battlefield: someone is noticed to be without a chariot and notably without weapons. This sets up the next action or reaction—others’ responses to a suddenly vulnerable combatant.