Shloka 28

Devanagari script

तान्‌ जघान शितैर्बाणै: सूतपुत्रो महारथ: । ते वध्यमाना: समरे चेदिमत्स्या विशाम्पते

Transliteration

tān jaghāna śitair bāṇaiḥ sūtaputro mahārathaḥ | te vadhyamānāḥ samare cedimatsyā viśāmpate ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Đại xa chiến, người con của Sūta (Karna), đã hạ họ bằng những mũi tên sắc bén. Khi các chiến binh Cedi và Matsya bị chém ngã giữa trận—hỡi chúa tể loài người—họ đã bị áp đảo trong cuộc giao tranh ấy.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जघान: slew/struck down
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सूतपुत्रः: the charioteer’s son (Karna)
• सूतपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महारथः: great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वध्यमानाः: being slain/being killed
• Type: Participle
• Root: वध्यमान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural, Passive, Present (Shatru/LAT-participle equivalent: -मान)

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• चेदी: the Cedis
• चेदी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेदि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मत्स्याः: the Matsyas
• मत्स्याः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विशाम्पते: O lord of the people
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाम्पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna (Sūtaputra)
• Cedi warriors
• Matsya warriors
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by viśāmpate)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the relentless momentum of war: prowess and martial skill can rapidly decide outcomes, while entire peoples (Cedi, Matsya) become subject to the consequences of battlefield duty and political allegiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Karna, fighting as a foremost warrior, showers sharp arrows and cuts down opposing fighters—specifically the Cedi and Matsya contingents—who are being slain amid the clash.