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Shloka 20

Arjuna’s Approach, Drona’s Recognition, and the Turning of the Cattle (अर्जुनागमनम्, द्रोणवाक्यम्, गोगमनिवृत्तिः)

शत्रोर्मया विपन्नानां भूतानां ध्वजवासिनाम्‌ | दिश: प्रतिष्ठमानानामस्तु शब्दो दिवंगम:

śatror mayā vipannānāṃ bhūtānāṃ dhvajavāsinām | diśaḥ pratiṣṭhamānānām astu śabdo divaṅgamaḥ ||

ขอให้เสียงร้องของเหล่าภูตผู้สถิตบนธงของศัตรู ซึ่งถูกข้าปราบจนพินาศและกำลังจากไปสู่ทิศของตน จงก้องกังวานลอยขึ้นไปถึงสวรรค์

शत्रोःof the enemy
शत्रोः:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootशत्रु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
मयाby me
मया:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootअस्मद्
Form—, Instrumental, Singular
विपन्नानाम्of the ruined/defeated
विपन्नानाम्:
Visheshana
TypeAdjective
Rootविपन्न (वि + √पद्/पत्, ‘to fall/come to ruin’)
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
भूतानाम्of beings/creatures
भूतानाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootभूत
FormNeuter, Genitive, Plural
ध्वजवासिनाम्of those dwelling at/under the banner (standard-bearers/flag-dwellers)
ध्वजवासिनाम्:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootध्वज-वासिन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
दिशःthe directions
दिशः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदिश्
FormFeminine, Accusative, Plural
प्रतिष्ठमानानाम्of those standing firm/being established
प्रतिष्ठमानानाम्:
Visheshana
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतिष्ठमान (प्र + √स्था, present participle Ātmanepada)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural
अस्तुlet there be
अस्तु:
Kriya
TypeVerb
Root√अस्
FormImperative (Vidhi-lin/Loṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
शब्दःa sound/cry
शब्दः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दिवम्to heaven/the sky
दिवम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदिव्/द्यु
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
गमःgoing/reaching
गमः:
Visheshana
TypeAdjective
Rootगम (from √गम्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular

कर्ण उवाच

K
Karna
E
enemy (unnamed)
D
dhvaja (banner/standard)
D
diśaḥ (the quarters/directions)
D
diva (heaven)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the warrior ethos of the epic: triumph in battle is voiced as a heaven-reaching proclamation, while also implying that violent acts carry immediate consequences—death and departure to their allotted destiny.

Karna speaks in a martial, triumphant tone, describing the enemy’s banner-associated beings as slain by him and imagining their departing cries resounding upward toward heaven—an image of battlefield omen and boast.