Shloka 54

Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)

Devanagari script

पुनश्चेदीदृशं॑ वाक्‍्यं मद्रराज वदिष्यसि

Transliteration

punaś ced īdṛśaṃ vākyaṃ madrarāja vadiṣyasi

Translation

ఓ మద్రరాజా! నీవు మళ్లీ ఇలాంటి మాటలు పలికితే, యుద్ధమధ్యంలో క్షత్రియులకు తగిన నియమం, గౌరవం లঙ্ঘించే అదే అవమానాన్ని మరల చేస్తావు.

Word by Word

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

• चेत्: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत्

• ईदृशम्: such (of this kind)
• ईदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वाक्यम्: speech; statement; words
• वाक्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मद्रराज: O king of Madra
• Type: Noun
• Root: मद्रराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• वदिष्यसि: you will say/speak
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Simple Future (Luṭ), Second, Singular

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• Madrarāja (Śalya)
• Madra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: repeated harsh or insulting words, especially in a charged setting like war, breach the decorum expected of leaders and warriors and can deepen conflict rather than uphold honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Karna Parva, Karna addresses Śalya (the king of Madra) directly, warning him not to repeat the same kind of provocative or disparaging remarks—an exchange reflecting tension within the Kaurava camp during the battle.