Shloka 38

कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter

Devanagari script

कर्णो हत्वेतरान्‌ सर्वान्‌ फाल्गुनं हन्तुमिच्छति

Transliteration

karṇo hatvetarān sarvān phālgunaṃ hantum icchati

Translation

संजय उवाच—कर्णः इतरान् सर्वान् हत्वा फाल्गुनं हन्तुमिच्छति।

Word by Word

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हत्वा: having slain
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Absolutive (त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त, gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• इतरान्: the others
• इतरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• फाल्गुनम्: Phalguna (Arjuna)
• फाल्गुनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: फाल्गुन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• हन्तुम्: to slay
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्)

• इच्छति: wishes/desires
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• Phalguna (Arjuna)
• Sanjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in the ethics of epic warfare, a warrior’s focus often shifts from general combat to a decisive confrontation with the chief opponent; it also hints at the moral tension between personal vendetta and the broader duties of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Karṇa, after dealing with other fighters, is intent on slaying Phālguna—Arjuna—signaling an escalation toward a climactic duel between the two foremost archers.