Shloka 24

कर्ण-पाण्डव-संमर्दः — Karṇa and Arjuna’s Intensified Engagement

Devanagari script

महारथो महाबाहुर्महाबाणैर्महाबल: । विव्याधाधिरथिभ्भीमं नवभिर्निशितैस्तदा,महारथी महाबाहु महाबली अधिरथपुत्र कर्णने उस समय नौ तीखे महाबाणोंसे भीमसेनको घायल कर दिया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

mahāratho mahābāhur mahābāṇair mahābalaḥ |

vivyādhādhirathir bhīmaṁ navabhir niśitais tadā ||

Translation

సంజయుడు పలికెను— అప్పుడు మహాబలవంతుడూ, మహాబాహువూ అయిన మహారథి అధిరథిపుత్రుడు కర్ణుడు, తొమ్మిది అత్యంత తీక్ష్ణమైన మహాబాణములతో భీముని గాయపరచెను।

Word by Word

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior

महाबाहुःmighty-armed

महाबाणैःwith great arrows

महाबलःvery strong

विव्याधpierced/wounded

अधिरथिःthe chariot-warrior (Adhirathi, i.e., Karna)

भीमम्Bhima

नवभिःwith nine

निशितैःsharp (whetted)

तदाthen/at that time

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Adhirathi (Karna)

Bhīma (Bhīmasena)

arrows

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya-world ethic of disciplined martial excellence: power is expressed through precise, skillful action in the midst of duty-bound conflict, illustrating how war in the epic is narrated as a test of prowess and resolve rather than mere chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Karna (called Adhirathi), a foremost warrior, strikes Bhīma with nine sharp arrows, wounding him during the intense fighting of the Droṇa Parva.