Shloka 17

कर्णपुत्रवधः (The Fall of Vṛṣasena) — Karṇa Parva, Adhyāya 62

Devanagari script

क्षीणशस्त्रास्त्रकवच: क्षीणबाणो विबाणधि: । श्रान्तसारथिवाहश्न च्छन्नो<स्त्रैररिभिस्तथा

Transliteration

kṣīṇaśastrāstrakavacaḥ kṣīṇabāṇo vibāṇadhiḥ | śrāntasārathivāhaś ca channo 'strair aribhis tathā ||

Translation

అతడు శస్త్రాస్త్రాలు, కవచం కోల్పోయాడు; బాణాలు క్షీణించి, తూణీరు ఖాళీ అయింది. సారథి, గుర్రాలు శ్రాంతులయ్యాయి; శత్రువుల అస్త్రాలతో అతడు అన్ని వైపులా కప్పబడినట్లయ్యాడు.

Word by Word

क्षीणशस्त्रास्त्रकवचःwhose weapons, missiles, and armor are exhausted

क्षीणबाणःwhose arrows are exhausted

विबाणधिःwith an empty quiver

श्रान्तसारथिवाहःwhose charioteer and horses are weary

चand

छन्नःcovered, enveloped

अस्त्रैःby weapons/missiles

अरिभिःby enemies

तथाthus, in that manner

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

enemies (ari)

weapons (śastra, astra)

armor (kavaca)

arrows (bāṇa)

quiver (bāṇadhi)

charioteer (sārathi)

horses (vāha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights steadfastness under extreme depletion—when weapons, protection, and support fail. In the Mahabharata’s war-ethic, true valor includes endurance and composure amid overwhelming pressure, not merely offensive success.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior in dire straits: weapons and armor are lost or spent, arrows are exhausted, the quiver is empty, and even the charioteer and horses are worn out, while enemy missiles continue to rain down, surrounding and covering him.