Shloka 12

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा शारद्वतं पार्थों मूर्च्छितं शरपीडितम्‌ । रथ एव महेष्वास: सकृप॑ पर्यदेवयत्‌

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā śāradvatam pārtho mūrcchitaṁ śarapīḍitam | ratha eva maheṣvāsaḥ sakṛpaḥ paryadevayat ||

Translation

శారద్వతుడు కృప బాణాలతో బాధపడుతూ మూర్ఛితుడై పడివున్నాడని చూసి, మహాధనుర్ధరుడు పార్థుడు అర్జునుడు తన రథంలో నుంచే అతనికోసం విలపించాడు।

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), कर्तरि

• शारद्वतम्: Śāradvata (Kṛpa)
• शारद्वतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारद्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पार्थः: Pārtha (Arjuna)
• पार्थः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मूर्च्छितम्: fainted, unconscious
• मूर्च्छितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्च्छ्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरपीडितम्: tormented by arrows
• शरपीडितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर-पीडित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथे: on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• महेष्वासः: the great archer
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-इष्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सकृपम्: with/for Kṛpa; Kṛpa (as companion/object of lament)
• सकृपम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-कृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पर्यदेवयत्: lamented, bewailed
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + दिव्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, Third, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Śāradvata (Kṛpa)
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• ratha (chariot)
• śara (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension in dharmic warfare: one may be bound to fight, yet still retain compassion and respect for elders and worthy opponents. Grief is not denied; it is integrated with duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Arjuna sees Kṛpa (Śāradvata) struck down and unconscious from arrow-wounds. Remaining on his chariot, Arjuna laments for him, indicating concern even for an enemy combatant.