Shloka 17

Devanagari script

कर्ण काशिपुरं गत्वा त्वयैकेन धनुष्मता । कन्यार्थे कुरुराजस्य राजानो मृदिता युधि

Transliteration

karṇa kāśipuraṁ gatvā tvayaikena dhanuṣmatā | kanyārthe kururājasya rājāno mṛditā yudhi ||

Translation

桑阇耶说道：“噢，迦尔纳！为了替俱卢之王求得一位少女，你独自前往迦尸城；仅凭一张弓，便在战场上击溃了聚集而来的诸王。”

Word by Word

• कर्ण: O Karna
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• काशिपुरम्: to the city of Kāśī
• काशिपुरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशिपुर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• गत्वा: having gone
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for absolutive)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• एकेन: alone / with one (i.e., single-handed)
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• धनुष्मता: armed with a bow / bow-bearing
• धनुष्मता: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुष्मत्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कन्यार्थे: for the sake of a maiden (bride)
• कन्यार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कुरुराजस्य: of the Kuru king
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुराज
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मृदिताः: crushed / defeated
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृद्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna
• Kuru king (Duryodhana)
• Kāśīpura (Kāśī/Varanasi)
• bow (dhanus)
• kings (rājānaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds how extraordinary personal strength can be directed toward political and personal objectives; it invites ethical reflection on using violence to secure marriage alliances and on the warrior’s loyalty to a ruler versus broader dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reminds Karṇa of a past feat: Karṇa went alone to Kāśīpura to obtain a maiden for Duryodhana and defeated the gathered kings in battle using only his bow.