Shloka 24
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५७
Arjuna’s targeted advance; Śalya–Karṇa dialogue; interception attempts
Devanagari script
कबन्धै: शोणितादिग्धैश्छिन्नगात्रशिरोधरै:
Transliteration
kabandhaiḥ śoṇitādigdhaiś chinnagātraśirodharaiḥ
Translation
कबन्धैः शोणितादिग्धैश्छिन्नगात्रशिरोधरैः॥
Word by Word
कबन्धैःwith/by headless trunks
कबन्धैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकबन्ध
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
शोणितादिग्धैःsmeared with blood
शोणितादिग्धैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootशोणितादिग्ध
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
छिन्नगात्रशिरोधरैःhaving severed limbs and heads
छिन्नगात्रशिरोधरैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootछिन्नगात्रशिरोधर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
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
The verse underscores the stark reality and moral gravity of warfare: even when fought under kṣatriya-duty, battle results in horrific suffering and death, reminding the listener of impermanence and the ethical burden of violence.
Sañjaya is vividly describing the battlefield scene—strewn with blood-smeared, headless bodies and severed limbs—intensifying the atmosphere of devastation in the Karṇa Parva war narrative.