Shloka 5

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच नकुलं सूतनन्दन: । सदृशं राजपुत्रस्य धन्विनश्न विशेषत:

Transliteration

evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca nakulaṁ sūtanandanaḥ | sadṛśaṁ rājaputrasya dhanvinaś ca viśeṣataḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Bị nói như vậy, Karṇa—con của người đánh xe—đáp lời Nakula: “Hãy hành xử cho xứng bậc vương tử, nhất là một cung thủ. Hãy đánh ta như một chiến binh chân chính. Ta sẽ xem khí phách nam nhi của ngươi. Trước hết hãy phô bày dũng lực nơi chiến địa; rồi hãy nói dài về nó.”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• उक्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• सदृशम्: befitting / suitable
• सदृशम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• राजपुत्रस्य: of a prince
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• धन्विनः: of an archer
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

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

• विशेषतः: especially
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Nakula
• Karṇa (Sūtanandana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts speech with action: true kṣatriya honor is proven by disciplined performance in battle, not by boastful talk. Prowess and conduct should precede self-praise.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Nakula speaks to him, Karṇa answers sharply, challenging Nakula to fight in a manner worthy of a princely archer and insisting that valor be demonstrated on the battlefield before making grand claims.