Shloka 4

Devanagari script

यथाप्रतिज्ञं योधानां राधेय: कृतवानपि । कुरूणामथ सर्वेषां कर्ण: शत्रुनिष्‌दन:

Transliteration

yathāpratijñaṃ yodhānāṃ rādheyaḥ kṛtavān api | kurūṇām atha sarveṣāṃ karṇaḥ śatruniṣūdanaḥ ||

Translation

Sabi ni Sañjaya: Tapat sa kanyang panata, tinupad ni Rādheya (Karṇa) ang ipinangako niya hinggil sa mga mandirigma. At pagkaraan, si Karṇa—tagapagpuksa ng kaaway—ay nagsimulang lipulin ang lahat ng kaaway ng mga Kuru, kumikilos sa mabigat at malamig na pasya ng isang kampeong nakagapos sa sariling salita, sa ilalim ng bigat ng katarungan sa digmaan.

Word by Word

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• प्रतिज्ञम्: the vow/promise
• प्रतिज्ञम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• योधानाम्: of the warriors
• Type: Noun
• Root: योद्धृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• राधेयः: Radheya (Karna)
• राधेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कृतवान्: did, fulfilled
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Periphrastic perfect (लिट्), Third, Parasmaipada (active)

• अपि: indeed, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कुरूणाम्: of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अथ: then, now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत्रु-निषूदनः: slayer of enemies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुनिषूदन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Rādheya (Karna)
• Kurus (Kauravas)
• warriors (yodhāḥ)
• enemies (śatravaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical force of a vow (pratijñā): a warrior’s identity and honor are tied to keeping one’s word, even amid the harsh ambiguities of war. It also hints at the tension between personal loyalty/pledge and the broader demands of dharma in a destructive conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Karna, called Rādheya, fulfills his declared intention regarding the warriors and then proceeds as a formidable enemy-slayer, intensifying the battle on behalf of the Kurus (Kauravas).