Shloka 44
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa
Devanagari script
कर्णस्य सैन्यं सुमहदभिहत्य शितै: शरै:
Transliteration
karṇasya sainyaṃ sumahad abhihatya śitaiḥ śaraiḥ
Translation
कर्णस्य सैन्यं सुमहदभिहत्य शितैः शरैः।
Word by Word
कर्णस्यof Karna
कर्णस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
सैन्यम्army
सैन्यम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसैन्य
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
सुमहत्very great
सुमहत्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसु-महत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अभिहत्यhaving slain / having struck down
अभिहत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootअभि-हन्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage as gerund)
शितैःwith sharp
शितैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootशित
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
शरैःarrows
शरैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)क
कर्ण (Karṇa)स
सैन्य (army)श
शर (arrows)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The line foregrounds the epic’s recurring tension: extraordinary martial competence can decisively alter outcomes, yet the act is still embedded in a war whose ethical burden is borne by all parties. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s insistence that victory in battle does not erase the moral gravity of destruction.
Sañjaya reports that Karṇa’s large contingent is being cut down by sharp arrows—indicating a moment of battlefield dominance where one side’s archery overwhelms Karṇa’s forces.