Shloka 52

Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Indra’s Intended Request

Kuṇḍala–Kavaca Discourse

Devanagari script

स सम्पातिस्तदा राजन श्रुत्वा सुमहदप्रियम्‌

Transliteration

sa sampātis tadā rājan śrutvā sumahad apriyam

Translation

Tâu đại vương, khi ấy Sampāti vừa nghe tin dữ vô cùng đau đớn và trái ý, liền bị nỗi sầu sâu thẳm đánh gục—cho thấy lời báo hung có thể thử thách sự vững lòng và lòng trắc ẩn trong dòng xoay vần của số mệnh.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्पातिः: Sampāti (proper name)
• सम्पातिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्पाति
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for ktvā)

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहत्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अप्रियम्: unpleasant (thing/news)
• अप्रियम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sampāti
• Rājan (the king being addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the moral and emotional weight of hearing grievous news: adversity often arrives first as painful information, and one’s dharmic response is measured by steadiness, empathy, and restraint rather than impulsive reaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya addresses the king and reports that Sampāti, at that moment, heard something extremely unpleasant and distressing, setting up Sampāti’s ensuing reaction and the next turn in the story.