Shloka 18

Rāmopākhyāna—Rāma–Sītā Origins and the Opening of Rāvaṇa’s Genealogy

Devanagari script

अथोत्द्ुष्टं महेष्वासैर्धार्तराष्ट्रमहारथै: । प्रतिज्ञाते फाल्गुनस्य वधे कर्णेन संयुगे,कर्णके द्वारा युद्धमें अर्जुनके वधकी प्रतिज्ञा करनेपर महान्‌ धनुर्धर महारथी धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रोंने बड़े जोरसे सिंहनाद किया

Transliteration

athotduṣṭaṃ maheṣvāsair dhārtarāṣṭra-mahārathaiḥ | pratijñāte phālgunasya vadhe karṇena saṃyuge ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Khi Karṇa giữa chiến trận thề sẽ giết Phālguna (Arjuna), các đại chiến xa của con trai Dhṛtarāṣṭra—những cung thủ hùng mạnh—liền hân hoan dữ dội và gầm lên tiếng sư tử vang rền.

Word by Word

अथthen

उत्दुष्टम्raised up; stirred up

महेष्वासैःby great bowmen

धार्तराष्ट्रsons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra

महारथैःby great chariot-warriors

प्रतिज्ञातेwhen (it was) vowed/promised

फाल्गुनस्यof Phālguna (Arjuna)

वधेin (the matter of) killing

कर्णेनby Karṇa

संयुगेin battle

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Karṇa

Phālguna (Arjuna)

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons (Kauravas)

Mahārathas

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how a warrior’s vow in battle can intensify group morale and hostility. It implicitly warns that pride and violent exhilaration, though effective for rallying troops, can deepen adharma by turning conflict into celebratory aggression rather than restrained duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karṇa publicly vows, during combat, to kill Arjuna (Phālguna). Hearing this, the Kaurava great warriors—Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side—respond with a loud lion-roar, expressing fierce approval and confidence.