Shloka 12

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम्‌ । कर्ण विव्याध सप्तत्या सारथिं च त्रिभि: शरै:

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam | karṇaṃ vivyādha saptatyā sārathiṃ ca tribhiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

ఆపై నకులుడు బంగారు వెనుకభాగం గల, ఎదుర్కోవడం కష్టమైన మరో ధనుస్సును ఎత్తుకొని కర్ణుణ్ణి డెబ్బై బాణాలతో, అతని సారథిని మూడు బాణాలతో గాయపరిచాడు.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यत्: another (one)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• हेमपृष्ठम्: gold-backed (gold-plated)
• हेमपृष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेमपृष्ठ
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दुरासदम्: hard to assail/overcome
• दुरासदम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरासद
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्णम्: Karna
• कर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विव्याध: pierced/wounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + व्यध्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सप्तत्या: with seventy (arrows)
• सप्तत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun (numeral)
• Root: सप्तति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• सारथिम्: charioteer
• सारथिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective (numeral)
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna
• Karna’s charioteer
• Nakula
• bow (dhanus)
• arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark battlefield form: steadfastness, technical mastery, and decisive action. It also invites reflection on the ethical tension of war—skill and duty operating within a violent arena where even attendants like charioteers become targets.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Sañjaya’s report of the battle, Nakula takes up another formidable, gold-backed bow and shoots Karṇa with seventy arrows, then wounds Karṇa’s charioteer with three arrows, intensifying the exchange between the warriors.