Shloka 563

Devanagari script

कालान्तकवपु: शूर: सूतपुत्रो5भ्यराजत । इस प्रकार शत्रुओंको तपानेवाला कर्ण मध्याह्न-कालके सूर्यकी भाँति तप रहा था। उस समय उसकी ओर देखना कठिन हो गया था। शूरवीर सूतपुत्रका शरीर काल और अन्तकके समान सुशोभित हो रहा था

Transliteration

kālāntakavapuḥ śūraḥ sūtaputro 'bhyarājata |

Translation

Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Ang bayaning anak ng tagapaghatid-karwahe—si Karna—ay nagningning na wari’y mismong Panahon at Kamatayan. Sinusunog niya ang mga kaaway at naglalagablab na parang araw sa katanghalian, kaya’t mahirap siyang titigan. Sa sandaling iyon, ang kanyang katawan ay tila pinalamutian ng nakapanghihilakbot na kamahalan nina Kāla at Antaka.

Word by Word

• कालान्तकवपुः: having a body like Kāla and Antaka (Death)
• कालान्तकवपुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालान्तक-वपुस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूरः: the hero
• शूरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सूतपुत्रः: the charioteer’s son (Karna)
• सूतपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत-पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अभ्यराजत: shone forth, was resplendent
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna
• Kāla
• Antaka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the epic’s vision of war as a domain where human valor can resemble cosmic forces: a warrior’s prowess may appear like Kāla (Time) and Antaka (Death). It cautions that martial brilliance carries ethical weight—radiance and victory are inseparable from the shadow of destruction and the inevitability of death.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna is blazing on the battlefield, scorching enemies and appearing so radiant that he is difficult to behold—likened to the midday sun and described as having a form comparable to Time and Death.