Shloka 20

अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa

Chapter 161

Devanagari script

कर्णोडपि रथियनां श्रेष्ठ श्नापमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्‌ । कौरवाग्रयै: परिवृत: शक्रो देवगणैरिव

Transliteration

karṇo 'pi rathināṁ śreṣṭhaḥ śnāpam udyamya vīryavān | kauravāgryaiḥ parivṛtaḥ śakro devagaṇair iva ||

Translation

కర్ణుడు కూడా—వీర్యవంతుడు, రథికుల్లో శ్రేష్ఠుడు—ఆయుధాన్ని ఎత్తెను. అతడు అగ్రగణ్య కౌరవులతో చుట్టుముట్టబడి, దేవగణాలతో చుట్టుముట్టబడిన శక్రుని (ఇంద్రుని) వలె కనిపించెను.

Word by Word

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• रथिनाम्: of chariot-warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• श्नापम्: a (weapon/implement) ‘śnāpa’ (uncertain reading/meaning)
• श्नापम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्नाप
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उद्यम्य: having lifted/raised
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-यम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• वीर्यवान्: mighty/possessing valor
• वीर्यवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौरव-अग्र्यैः: by the foremost Kauravas
• कौरव-अग्र्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव + अग्र्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिवृतः: surrounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृत्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शक्रः: Indra
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देव-गणैः: by groups of gods
• देव-गणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• कर्ण (Karna)
• कौरव (Kauravas)
• शक्र/इन्द्र (Indra)
• देवगण (hosts of gods)
• रथिन् (chariot-warriors)
• श्नाप (weapon)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how martial power is amplified by collective support—leaders appear ‘Indra-like’ when backed by their host—yet it also invites reflection on the ethical ambiguity of glory gained through factional warfare.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Karṇa taking up his weapon and standing prominently in battle, surrounded by the chief Kaurava warriors, compared to Indra surrounded by the gods—signaling readiness for a major clash.