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Shloka 15

कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्

Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words

अन्योन्यं समरे जष्नुर्योधव्रतमनुछिता: । नहि ते समरं चक्र: पृष्ठठो वै कथठ्चन,वे वीर योद्धाके व्रतका पालन करते हुए युद्धस्थलमें एक-दूसरेको मारते थे। उन्होंने किसी तरह भी युद्धमें पीठ नहीं दिखायी

anyonyam samare jaghnur yodhavratam anucchitāḥ | nahi te samaraṃ cakruḥ pṛṣṭhato vai kathañcana ||

अन्योन्यं समरे जघ्नुर्योधव्रतमनुच्छिताः। नहि ते समरं चक्रुः पृष्ठतो वै कथञ्चन॥

अन्योन्यम्mutually, each other
अन्योन्यम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्योन्य
FormAvyaya (adverbial accusative usage)
समरेin battle
समरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootसमर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
जघ्नुःthey slew/killed
जघ्नुः:
TypeVerb
Rootहन्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
योधव्रतम्the warrior’s vow/duty
योधव्रतम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootयोध-व्रत
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अनुचिताḥobserving/following (properly devoted to)
अनुचिताḥ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुचित
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
FormNegation particle
हिindeed
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
FormParticle (emphasis/indeed)
तेthey/those (warriors)
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
समरम्battle
समरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसमर
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
चक्रुःthey did/made
चक्रुः:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural
पृष्ठतःbackwards; showing the back
पृष्ठतः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपृष्ठतस्
FormAvyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from the back/backwards')
वैindeed, surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
FormParticle (emphasis)
कथंचनin any way; at all
कथंचन:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथंचन
FormAvyaya

संजय उवाच

S
Sanjaya
W
warriors (yodhāḥ)
B
battlefield (samara)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights yodha-vrata (the warrior’s ethical code): steadfastness, courage, and refusal to retreat or fight dishonorably. It frames battlefield conduct as a matter of dharma—discipline and honor even amid violence.

Sanjaya describes the combatants in the Karna Parva as fighting fiercely and directly, killing one another while maintaining the accepted rules of warrior conduct, and never showing their backs—i.e., not fleeing or turning away from the fight.