Shloka 11

अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa

Devanagari script

धृष्टद्युम्नस्य यमयोवीरिस्थ च शिखण्डिन: । पश्यतां द्रौपदेयानां पज्चालानां च सर्वश:,उसने सात्यकि, धृष्टद्युम्न, नकुल, सहदेव, वीर शिखण्डी, द्रौपदीपुत्र तथा पांचालोंके देखते-देखते मेरी ध्वजा काट डाली, पार्श्वरक्षकोंको मार डाला और मेरे घोड़ोंका भी संहार कर डाला था

Transliteration

dhṛṣṭadyumnasya yamo vīriṣṭha ca śikhaṇḍinaḥ | paśyatāṃ draupadeyānāṃ pāñcālānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ ||

Translation

యముని వంటి పరాక్రమశాలి శిఖండి, ధృష్టద్యుమ్నుడితో కలిసి, ద్రౌపదీపుత్రులు మరియు సమస్త పాంచాలుల కళ్లముందే నా ధ్వజాన్ని కోసివేసి, పార్శ్వరక్షకులను సంహరించి, నా గుర్రాలనూ నాశనం చేశాడు।

Word by Word

धृष्टद्युम्नस्यof Dhrishtadyumna

यमयोःof the two Yamas (Nakula and Sahadeva)

वीरस्यof the hero

चand

शिखण्डिनःof Shikhandin

पश्यताम्while (they) were seeing; in the presence of

द्रौपदेयानाम्of the sons of Draupadi

पाञ्चालानाम्of the Panchalas

चand

सर्वशःon all sides; entirely

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Dhṛṣṭadyumna

Śikhaṇḍin

Draupadeyas (sons of Draupadī)

Pāñcālas

dhvaja (banner/standard)

pārśvarakṣakas (flank-guards)

aśvas (horses)

Yama (as a simile/metaphor)

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 how, in war, outward signs of power—banner, guards, horses—can be destroyed in an instant, exposing the fragility of status and the harsh momentum of violence. Ethically, it underscores the gravity of kṣatriya conflict: once battle is joined, consequences unfold relentlessly, testing leadership, resolve, and adherence to duty amid humiliation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira recounts a battlefield setback: Dhṛṣṭadyumna and the fierce Śikhaṇḍin, before the eyes of the Draupadeyas and the Pāñcāla forces, strike his chariot’s symbols and supports—cutting his banner, killing his flank-guards, and destroying his horses—thereby publicly diminishing his position in the fight.