Shloka 14

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter

Devanagari script

राजन्‌ कमलपत्राक्ष विशिष्टाभिजनश्रुत | वज्ञसंहननप्रख्य प्रदातवतलपौरुष

Transliteration

rājan kamalapatrākṣa viśiṣṭābhijanaśruta | vajrasaṃhananaprakhya pradātavatalapauruṣa ||

Translation

सञ्जय उवाच—राजन् कमलपत्राक्ष विशिष्टाभिजनश्रुत । वज्रसंहननप्रख्य प्रदातवतलपौरुष ॥

Word by Word

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कमलपत्राक्ष: O lotus-petal-eyed one
• कमलपत्राक्ष: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमलपत्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• विशिष्ट: excellent, distinguished
• विशिष्ट: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अभिजन: lineage, noble birth
• अभिजन: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिजन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्रुत: learning, sacred knowledge (what is heard)
• श्रुत: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• वज्र: thunderbolt; diamond
• वज्र: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• संहनन: compact build; bodily frame
• संहनन: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहनन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रख्य: like; comparable to
• प्रख्य: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रख्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रदात: giver, bestower
• प्रदात: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदातृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वतल: possessing; endowed with
• वतल: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वतल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• पौरुषम्: manliness; valor; prowess
• पौरुषम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as 'rājan', 'kamalapatrākṣa')

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ideal royal virtues: noble lineage joined with learning (śruta), generosity, and steadfast courage. It implies that authority is strengthened when ethical reputation and personal discipline accompany power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya addresses King Dhṛtarāṣṭra with respectful epithets and a formal eulogy, highlighting his pedigree, learning, strong physique, generosity, and valor—setting a courtly tone before reporting or framing the events of the war.