Shloka 123

धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation

Devanagari script

महता शरवर्षेण राधेय: प्रत्यवारयत्‌ । गन्धर्वोकी उस विशाल सेनाको अपनी ओर आती देख कर्णने भारी बाणवर्षा करके उसे आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया

Transliteration

mahātā śaravarṣeṇa rādhēyaḥ pratyavārayat | gandharvokīṃ sa viśālāṃ senām ātmānaṃ prati āgatāṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇo gurubhir bāṇavarṣaiḥ sāgre gamanaṃ nyavārayat |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Thấy đạo quân Gandharva hùng hậu đang tiến về phía mình, Rādheya (Karna) liền chặn đà xông tới của họ bằng một trận mưa tên nặng nề. Trước sức ép của lực lượng đang tràn đến, chàng đáp trả bằng sự kháng cự võ trận nghiêm cẩn, lấy tài bắn cung phi thường mà buộc họ phải dừng bước.

Word by Word

• महता: by/with great
• महता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शरवर्षेण: by a shower of arrows
• शरवर्षेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरवर्ष
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राधेयः: Radheya (Karna)
• राधेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्यवारयत्: checked/stopped/held back
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+√वृ (वारयति)
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Rādheya (Karna)
• Gandharvas
• senā (army)
• śara/bāṇa (arrows)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-style resolve: when confronted by an advancing hostile force, one must respond with steadiness and skill, restraining violence through disciplined action rather than panic or retreat.

What is happening in the narrative?

A large Gandharva host advances; Karna (Rādheya) sees them coming and stops their forward movement by releasing a powerful barrage of arrows.