Shloka 376

Śalya Appointed as Karṇa’s Sārathi; Discourse on Praise, Blame, and Beneficial Counsel (कर्णस्य शल्यसारथ्यं तथा स्तवनिन्दाविचारः)

Devanagari script

हार्दिक्यशरसंतप्तं नि:श्वसन्तं पुन: पुनः । कृतवर्माके बाणोंसे संतप्त हो बारंबार लंबी साँस खींचते हुए रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ शिखण्डीको उसका सारथि तुरंत रणभूमिसे बाहर हटा ले गया

Transliteration

hārdikya-śara-santaptaṃ niḥśvasantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ | kṛtavarmake bāṇoṃse santapta ho bārambār lambī sāṃs khīṃcte hue rathiyoṃ meṃ śreṣṭha śikhaṇḍīko usakā sārathi turanta raṇabhūmise bāhar haṭā le gayā |

Translation

హార్దిక్యుడు (కృతవర్మ) వేసిన బాణాలతో దగ్ధమై, మళ్లీ మళ్లీ దీర్ఘ నిశ్వాసాలు విడుస్తున్న రథీశ్రేష్ఠుడు శిఖండిని అతని సారథి వెంటనే రణభూమి నుండి బయటకు తీసుకెళ్లాడు।

Word by Word

• हार्दिक्य-शर-संतप्तम्: scorched by Hārdikya’s arrows
• हार्दिक्य-शर-संतप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हार्दिक्य + शर + संतप्त
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• नि:श्वसन्तम्: breathing/sighing
• नि:श्वसन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि:श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• पुनः: again (repeatedly)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Hārdikya (Kṛtavarman)
• Śikhaṇḍin
• charioteer (sārathi)
• arrows (śara/bāṇa)
• battlefield (raṇabhūmi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in righteous warfare, discernment and support roles matter: a charioteer’s timely withdrawal of a grievously wounded warrior preserves life and enables the warrior to return to duty later. Valor is not only striking blows but also knowing when to regroup under responsible guidance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍin has been badly hurt by Kṛtavarman’s arrows and is repeatedly gasping; seeing his condition, Śikhaṇḍin’s charioteer immediately takes him out of the battle zone.