Mahabharata 7.175.48 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 48

Devanagari script

एष कर्णों महेष्वासो मतिमान्‌ दृढविक्रम: । पाण्डवानामनीकेषु निहन्ति क्षत्रियर्षभान्‌

Transliteration

eṣa karṇo maheṣvāso matimān dṛḍha-vikramaḥ | pāṇḍavānām anīkeṣu nihanti kṣatriyarṣabhān ||

Translation

ఈ కర్ణుడు—మహాధనుర్ధరుడు, బుద్ధిమంతుడు, దృఢవిక్రముడు—పాండవుల వ్యూహాల్లో క్షత్రియవృషభులైన వీరులను సంహరిస్తున్నాడు.

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• महेष्वासः: great archer
• महेष्वासः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेष्वास
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मतिमान्: intelligent
• मतिमान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• दृढविक्रमः: of firm valor
• दृढविक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढविक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पाण्डवानाम्: of the Pandavas
• पाण्डवानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अनीकेषु: in the armies/formations
• अनीकेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनीक
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• निहन्ति: slays
• निहन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्षत्रियर्षभान्: bulls among kshatriyas (best warriors)
• क्षत्रियर्षभान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रियर्षभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

श्रीवायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Karna
• Pāṇḍavas
• Kṣatriyas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how exceptional qualities—strength, skill, and intelligence—can serve either protection or devastation depending on one’s alignment in conflict. In the dharmic frame of the Mahābhārata, martial excellence is not morally neutral in its outcomes; it intensifies the ethical weight of one’s choices and alliances.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu points out Karṇa on the battlefield, describing him as a formidable archer who is actively cutting down leading Kṣatriya warriors within the Pāṇḍava forces. It is a report of Karṇa’s dominance and the heavy losses being inflicted in the ongoing battle.