Mahabharata — Karna Parva, Shloka 8

Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma

Devanagari script

ततो दुर्योधनो राजा साम्ना परमवल्गुना । तानाभाष्य महेष्वासान्‌ प्राप्तकालमभाषत

Transliteration

tato duryodhano rājā sāmnā paramavalgūnā | tān ābhāṣya maheṣvāsān prāptakālam abhāṣata ||

Translation

แล้วพระเจ้าทุรโยธน์ตรัสด้วยถ้อยคำปลอบประโลมอันหวานยิ่งนักแก่บรรดามหาธนูรธรทั้งหลาย และตรัสอย่างเหมาะกาลว่า—“โอ้กษัตริย์ผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่นักปราชญ์! จงกล่าวความเห็นโดยเร็ว อย่าชักช้า ในสภาพเช่นนี้เราควรทำสิ่งใด และหน้าที่ใดเร่งด่วนที่สุด?”

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• साम्ना: with conciliation / by gentle means
• साम्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• परमवल्गुना: with exceedingly sweet (speech)
• परमवल्गुना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-वल्गु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तान्: those (men)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आभाष्य: having addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-भाष् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage), having addressed/spoken to

• महेष्वासान्: great bowmen
• महेष्वासान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-इष्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• प्राप्तकालम्: timely, appropriate to the occasion
• प्राप्तकालम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभाषत: spoke, said
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Duryodhana
• maheṣvāsaḥ (great bowmen/kings)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in crisis, a ruler must seek timely counsel and identify the most urgent duty (kartavya). The verse highlights leadership through consultation and the ethical pressure of choosing the right action under war-time constraints.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya reports that Duryodhana, using soothing and persuasive words, addresses the assembled great archers/kings on his side and urges them to speak without delay about what should be done next and what duty is most necessary at that moment.