Shloka 13

Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter

Devanagari script

आभाष्य चैनं मधुरमभीतं तमभीतवत्‌ | प्राह प्रहरतां श्रेष्ठ: स्मितपूर्व समाह्दयत्‌

Transliteration

ābhāṣya cainaṁ madhuram abhītaṁ tam abhītavat | prāha praharatāṁ śreṣṭhaḥ smitapūrvaṁ samāhṛdayat ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Dẫu đối phương không hề sợ hãi, Aśvatthāmā vẫn dùng lời lẽ dịu dàng, êm ái mà ngỏ cùng. Bậc nhất trong hàng chiến sĩ ấy mỉm cười trước, rồi như chính mình cũng vô úy, cất tiếng gọi đối thủ ra giao chiến và nói rằng.

Word by Word

• आभाष्य: having addressed / speaking to
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-भाष्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः), कर्तरि, पूर्वकाले कृत्य (having done)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (एतद्-प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• मधुरम्: sweetly / in sweet words
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अभीतम्: fearless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभीत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तम्: that (man), him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभीतवत्: like a fearless one
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीतवत्
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (comparison)

• प्राह: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह् (अह्/ब्रू-समर्थः; √अह् 'to say')
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• प्रहरताम्: of those striking/fighting
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (प्रहरति)
• Form: शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्मितपूर्वम्: with a smile beforehand / smiling first
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मित-पूर्व
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (पूर्वम् as head)

• समाह्वयत्: challenged / called (to battle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वे (समाह्वयति)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Aśvatthāmā

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in the heat of war, the verse highlights a code of conduct: a warrior may issue a challenge firmly yet with controlled speech—madhura-vāk—suggesting restraint, composure, and a disciplined courage rather than uncontrolled rage.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Aśvatthāmā, described as foremost among fighters, addresses a fearless king/opponent with pleasing words, smiles, and then calls him forward—formally inviting or challenging him to engage in battle.