Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 11

कुन्ती–कर्णसंवादः

Kuntī–Karṇa Dialogue: Loyalty, Fate, and Constrained Assurance

कर्ण शोभिष्यसे नूनं पञ्चभिय्भ्रातृभिर्वृत: । देवै: परिवृतो ब्रह्मा वेद्यामिव महाध्वरे

karṇa śobhiṣyase nūnaṁ pañcabhir bhrātṛbhir vṛtaḥ | devaiḥ parivṛto brahmā vedyām iva mahādhvare ||

कर्ण शोभिष्यसे नूनं पञ्चभिः भ्रातृभिर्वृतः । देवैः परिवृतो ब्रह्मा वेद्यामिव महाध्वरे ॥

कर्णO Karna
कर्ण:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
शोभिष्यसेyou will shine / be splendid
शोभिष्यसे:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootशुभ्
FormSimple Future (Luṭ), Second, Singular, Ātmanepada
नूनम्surely, indeed
नूनम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनूनम्
पञ्चभिःwith five
पञ्चभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootपञ्च
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural
भ्रातृभिःby/with brothers
भ्रातृभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभ्रातृ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वृतःsurrounded
वृतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवृत (√वृ 'to cover/surround')
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past Passive Participle (क्त)
देवैःby/with the gods
देवैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
परिवृतःsurrounded all around
परिवृतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootपरिवृत (pari-√वृ 'to surround')
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Past Passive Participle (क्त)
ब्रह्माBrahmā
ब्रह्मा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (ब्रह्मा)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
वेद्याम्on the altar
वेद्याम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवेदी
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
महाध्वरेin the great sacrifice
महाध्वरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहाध्वर
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
कर्णO Karna
कर्ण:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्ण
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

कर्ण उवाच

K
Karna
F
five brothers (pañca-bhrātṛ)
B
Brahmā
D
devas (gods)
V
vedi (sacrificial altar/platform)
M
mahādhvara (great sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that true splendor and strength arise from righteous solidarity—being supported by one’s brothers and allies—likened to the sanctified grandeur of a great sacrifice where Brahmā is honored amid the gods.

Karna is addressing a person he calls ‘you,’ praising and encouraging him by saying he will look glorious when surrounded by his five brothers, using a ritual simile drawn from a grand Vedic sacrifice.