Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 23

तस्मिंस्तु नागे धनुषि प्रयुक्ते हाहाकृता लोकपाला: सशक्रा: । न चापि त॑ बुबुधे सूतपुत्रो बाणे प्रविष्टं योगबलेन नागम्‌,धनुषपर उस नागका प्रयोग होते ही इन्द्रसहित सम्पूर्ण लोकपाल हाहाकार कर उठे। सूतपुत्रको भी यह मालूम नहीं था कि मेरे इस बाणमें योगबलसे नाग घुसा बैठा है

tasmiṁstu nāge dhanuṣi prayukte hāhākṛtā lokapālāḥ saśakrāḥ | na cāpi taṁ bubudhe sūtaputro bāṇe praviṣṭaṁ yogabalena nāgam ||

तस्मिंस्तु नागे धनुषि प्रयुक्ते हाहाकृता लोकपालाः सशक्राः । न चापि तं बुबुधे सूतपुत्रो बाणे प्रविष्टं योगबलेन नागम् ॥

तस्मिन्in that
तस्मिन्:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
नागेin/with the serpent (missile/serpent)
नागे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
धनुषिon the bow
धनुषि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
प्रयुक्तेwhen (it was) employed/shot
प्रयुक्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-युज्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Locative, Singular
हाहाकृताःuttering 'hā hā' / raising a cry
हाहाकृताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootहाहा-कृत
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
लोकपालाःguardians of the worlds
लोकपालाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootलोकपाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सशक्राःtogether with Śakra (Indra)
सशक्राः:
TypeAdjective
Rootस-शक्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
तत्that (fact/that thing)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
बुबुधेknew/realized
बुबुधे:
TypeVerb
Rootबुध्
Formलिट् (perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd, Singular
सूतपुत्रःthe charioteer’s son (Karna)
सूतपुत्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसूतपुत्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
बाणेin the arrow
बाणे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootबाण
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
प्रविष्टम्entered/that had entered
प्रविष्टम्:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-विश्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular
योगबलेनby the power of yoga
योगबलेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootयोगबल
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
नागम्the serpent
नागम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootनाग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
K
Karna (Sūtaputra)
I
Indra (Śakra)
L
Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds/directions)
N
Nāga (serpent)
B
Bow (dhanuṣ)
A
Arrow (bāṇa)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights that outcomes in war are not governed solely by visible skill and intention; unseen forces—divine or yogic—can intervene, making human agency partial and complicating moral judgment about responsibility and fate.

As a serpent-powered missile is set and released from the bow, even Indra and the other world-guardians react with alarm. Karna, however, remains unaware that a serpent has entered and is riding within the arrow through yogic power.