Shloka 38
कर्णवधार्थं धनञ्जयस्य प्रतिज्ञा — Arjuna’s resolve for Karṇa’s defeat
Devanagari script
प्रतिलभ्य तत: संज्ञां श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथि:
Transliteration
pratilabhya tataḥ saṃjñāṃ śvetāśvaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
Translation
प्रतिलभ्य ततः संज्ञां श्वेताश्वः कृष्णसारथिः। रणकोलाहलमध्येऽपि धैर्येण समवस्थितः॥
Word by Word
प्रतिलभ्यhaving regained/obtained back
प्रतिलभ्य:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्रतिलभ् (धातु)
Formल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (absolutive)
ततःthen; thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
Formअव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थः)
संज्ञाम्consciousness; awareness
संज्ञाम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसंज्ञा
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
श्वेताश्वःŚvetāśva (the white-horsed one / named Śvetāśva)
श्वेताश्वः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्वेताश्व
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कृष्णसारथिःKṛṣṇa's charioteer
कृष्णसारथिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्णसारथि
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaK
Kṛṣṇa (as sārathi/charioteer)W
white horses (śvetāśvāḥ)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Even in violent and disorienting circumstances, a leader or guide must recover steadiness quickly; regaining clarity (saṃjñā) and composure is presented as a dharmic strength that enables right action and protection of others.
Sañjaya reports that Kṛṣṇa, identified by the epithet ‘white-horsed’ and as the charioteer, regains consciousness after a moment of impairment or shock, indicating a return to control and readiness to continue guiding the chariot in battle.