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Shloka 5

देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्

Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology

ततः कर्णमुखानू्‌ दृष्ट्‌वा क्षत्रियान्‌ युद्धदुर्मदान्‌ । सम्पेततुरभीतौ तौ गजौ प्रतिगजानिव,तदनन्तर कर्ण आदि रणोन्मत्त क्षत्रियोंको आते देख वे दोनों भाई निर्भय हो उनपर उसी तरह टूट पड़े, जैसे दो (मतवाले) हाथी अपने विपक्षी हाथियोंकी ओर बढ़े जा रहे हों

tataḥ karṇamukhān dṛṣṭvā kṣatriyān yuddha-durmadān | sampetatū rabhītau tau gajau pratigajān iva ||

ఆపై కర్ణుని ముందుండగా యుద్ధమదంతో ఉన్మత్తులైన క్షత్రియులను చూసి, ఆ ఇద్దరు సోదరులు భయములేక వారిపై దూకిరి—ప్రతిగజాలపై మదించిన రెండు గజాలు పరిగెత్తినట్లు.

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
कर्णमुखान्Karna and the others (lit. Karna and the foremost)
कर्णमुखान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकर्णमुख
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
दृष्ट्वाhaving seen
दृष्ट्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)
क्षत्रियान्warriors, Kshatriyas
क्षत्रियान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्रिय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
युद्धदुर्मदान्made arrogant by battle; battle-maddened
युद्धदुर्मदान्:
TypeAdjective
Rootयुद्धदुर्मद
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
सम्पेततुःthe two rushed/fell upon
सम्पेततुः:
TypeVerb
Rootसम् + पत्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Dual
अभीतौfearless (the two)
अभीतौ:
TypeAdjective
Rootअभीत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
तौthose two
तौ:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
गजौtwo elephants
गजौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootगज
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
प्रतिगजान्opposing elephants
प्रतिगजान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootप्रतिगज
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव

वैशम्पायन उवाच

V
Vaiśampāyana
K
Karṇa
K
Kṣatriya warriors
T
the two brothers (unnamed in this verse)
E
elephants (gaja)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights Kṣatriya-dharma as fearless confrontation in battle, while also warning that war can breed durmada—reckless pride or intoxication—which ethically clouds judgment and hastens destruction.

Karṇa and other battle-frenzied Kṣatriyas advance; in response, two brothers charge at them without fear, compared to two powerful elephants rushing against rival elephants.