Shloka 22

धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca

Devanagari script

अर्जुनेन प्रतिज्ञाते वधे कर्णसुतस्य तु

Transliteration

arjunena pratijñāte vadhe karṇasutasya tu

Translation

अर्जुनेन प्रतिज्ञाते वधे कर्णसुतस्य तु।

Word by Word

• अर्जुनेन: by Arjuna
• अर्जुनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• प्रतिज्ञाते: when (it was) vowed / upon the vow being made
• प्रतिज्ञाते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रति + √ज्ञा)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• वधे: in the killing / regarding the slaying
• वधे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कर्णसुतस्य: of Karṇa's son
• कर्णसुतस्य: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णसुत
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तु: but / indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Karṇa
• Karṇa’s son

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the ethical gravity of a kṣatriya’s pratijñā (solemn vow): once publicly undertaken, it becomes a binding commitment tied to honor and dharma, even when it leads into harsh and tragic consequences on the battlefield.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a turning point in the battle narrative: Arjuna has vowed to kill Karṇa’s son, and this vow sets the immediate martial objective and heightens the stakes for both sides, shaping subsequent actions and confrontations.