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Shloka 15

अर्जुन-कर्ण-सङ्ग्रामः

Arjuna–Karna Engagement in the Cattle-Raid Aftermath

समिद्ध॑ पावकं चैव घृतमेदोवसाहुतम्‌ । घृताक्तश्लीरवासास्त्व॑ मध्येनोत्तर्तुमिच्छसि,अथवा अपने शरीरमें घी पोतकर चिथड़े या वल्कल पहने हुए तुम घी, मेदा और चर्बी आदिकी आहुतियोंसे प्रजजलित आगके भीतरसे होकर निकलना चाहते हो

samiddhaṁ pāvakaṁ caiva ghṛta-medovasā-hutam | ghṛtākta-śīrṇa-vāsās tvaṁ madhyenottartum icchasi ||

کیا تم اپنے بدن پر گھی مل کر، چیتھڑے یا چھال کے کپڑے پہن کر، گھی، چربی اور مَیدے کی آہوتیوں سے بھڑکتی آگ کے عین بیچ سے گزرنا چاہتے ہو؟

समिद्धम्kindled, blazing
समिद्धम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootसमिद्ध (सम्-इन्ध् धातोः क्त)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
पावकम्fire
पावकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपावक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
घृत-मेदस्-वसा-आहुतम्fed with oblations of ghee, fat and grease
घृत-मेदस्-वसा-आहुतम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootआहुत (आ-हु धातोः क्त); घृत/मेदस्/वसा (उपपद)
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
घृत-आक्त-श्लीर्वासाःyou whose garments (rags/bark-cloth) are smeared with ghee
घृत-आक्त-श्लीर्वासाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवस् (वस धातोः क्तिन्/आसन्-प्रत्ययान्त बहुव्रीहिः); घृत/आक्त (आञ्ज् धातोः क्त); श्लीर्व (श्लीर्व/श्लीव = चिथडा/वल्कल)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormNominative, Singular
मध्येनthrough the middle
मध्येन:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमध्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
उत्तर्तुम्to cross over / to come out
उत्तर्तुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootउत्-तॄ (तॄ धातुः)
FormInfinitive
इच्छसिyou wish/desire
इच्छसि:
TypeVerb
Rootइष् (इच्छ्)
FormPresent, Second, Singular

कृप उवाच

K
Kṛpa
P
pāvaka (Agni/fire)
G
ghṛta (ghee)
M
medas (fat)
V
vasā (grease/suet)
V
valkala (bark-garment)

Educational Q&A

The verse warns against rash, self-destructive action. By comparing the intention to crossing a blazing, ghee-fed fire while smeared with ghee, Kṛpa underscores that choices must be guided by discernment and dharma, not by impulsive bravado or despair.

Kṛpa speaks in a cutting, rhetorical question to dissuade someone from an extremely dangerous course of action. The imagery of an intensely fueled fire functions as a vivid deterrent, emphasizing the near-certain ruin that would follow such a decision.