Shloka 33

Devanagari script

शरसंकृत्तवर्माणं रुधिरोक्षितवाससम्‌ | गतासुमपि राधेयं नैव लक्ष्मीविमुड्चति

Transliteration

śara-saṅkṛtta-varmāṇaṃ rudhirokṣita-vāsasam | gatāsum api rādheyaṃ naiva lakṣmī-vimuñcati ||

Translation

Wika ni Śalya: “Bagaman si Rādheya (Karna) ay napira-piraso ang baluti dahil sa mga palaso, bagaman ang kanyang kasuotan ay basang-basa sa dugo, at bagaman ang buhay ay lumisan na sa kanya, hindi pa rin siya iniwan ng ningning (lakṣmī)—ang liwanag ng dangal ng isang bayani.”

Word by Word

• शर-संकृत्त-वर्माणम्: whose armor was cut by arrows
• शर-संकृत्त-वर्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर + संकृत्त + वर्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रुधिर-उक्षित-वाससम्: whose garments were drenched with blood
• रुधिर-उक्षित-वाससम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर + उक्षित + वासस्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गत-असुम्: even though life had departed (dead)
• गत-असुम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + असु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: even/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• राधेयम्: Radheya (Karna)
• राधेयम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• लक्ष्मीः: splendor/fortune (Lakshmi)
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विमुञ्चति: abandons/lets go
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Rādheya (Karna)
• arrows (śara)
• armour (varman)
• garments (vāsas)
• blood (rudhira)
• Lakṣmī (as splendour/auspicious radiance)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ideal of kṣatriya heroism: even in defeat and death, a warrior’s dignity and radiance—earned through courage and steadfastness—can remain. It suggests that true ‘lakṣmī’ here is not mere fortune but the visible mark of honor that does not easily depart.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya describes Karna after he has been struck down in battle: his armour is shredded by arrows, his clothes are soaked in blood, and he is lifeless—yet his bodily presence still appears majestic, as if splendour itself refuses to leave him.