Shloka 19

Devanagari script

पृष्ठगोप्ता तु कर्णस्य ज्येष्ठ; ओ महारथ: । वृषसेन: स्वयं कर्ण पृष्ठत: पर्यपालयत्‌

Transliteration

pṛṣṭhagoptā tu karṇasya jyeṣṭhaḥ, o mahārathaḥ | vṛṣasenaḥ svayaṃ karṇa pṛṣṭhataḥ paryapālayat |

Translation

สัญชัยกล่าวว่า “โอ ผู้เลิศในหมู่นักรบรถศึกผู้ยิ่งใหญ่! วฤษเสนะ บุตรคนโตของกรรณะ เป็นกองคุ้มกันด้านหลัง คอยพิทักษ์กรรณะด้วยตนเองจากการโจมตีที่มาจากเบื้องหลัง”

Word by Word

पृष्ठगोप्ताrear-guard/protector of the back

तुbut/indeed

कर्णस्यof Karna

ज्येष्ठःthe eldest/senior

महारथःgreat chariot-warrior

वृषसेनःVrishasena

स्वयम्himself

कर्णO Karna

पृष्ठतःfrom behind/at the rear

पर्यपालयत्protected/guarded

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

स

संजय (Sañjaya)

क

कर्ण (Karna)

व

वृषसेन (Vṛṣasena)

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 kṣatriya discipline and loyalty: protection of one’s leader and kin is not merely affection but a battlefield duty. Vṛṣasena’s personal rear-guard role embodies steadfast service and responsibility under danger.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battle formation around Karna: his eldest son Vṛṣasena takes position behind him as a dedicated rear-guard, ensuring Karna is not struck from the back while engaged with enemies in front.