Shloka 41

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

ततः संधाय नवतिं निमेषान्नतपर्वणाम्‌ । बिभेद कवचं राज्ञो रणे कर्ण: शितै: शरै:

Transliteration

tataḥ sandhāya navatiṁ nimeṣān nataparvaṇām | bibheda kavacaṁ rājño raṇe karṇaḥ śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—پھر کرن نے پلک جھپکتے ہی خمیدہ جوڑوں والے نوّے تیر جوڑ کر، اپنے تیز شفتوں سے میدانِ جنگ میں بادشاہ کے زرہ بکتر کو چھید کر چاک کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)

• संधाय: having fixed/aimed (having fitted)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable

• नवतिम्: ninety
• नवतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• निमेषान्: blinks; instants
• निमेषान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नतपर्वणाम्: of (arrows) having bent joints/knots
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नतपर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• बिभेद: split, pierced, broke
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular

• कवचम्: armor
• कवचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राज्ञः: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

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

• शितैः: with sharp
• शितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• kavaca (armor)
• śara (arrows)
• raṇa (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in war, skill and determination can overwhelm even strong defenses; ethically it points to the harsh momentum of kṣatriya duty, where protection and restraint can be rapidly eroded, forcing leaders to confront the consequences of choosing battle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Karṇa strings and releases ninety specially described arrows and, with sharp shafts, rends the king Yudhiṣṭhira’s armor in the midst of battle.