Shloka 45

कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वनगराकारान्‌ रथांश्वैव सुकल्पितान्‌ । विनीतैर्जवनैर्युक्तानास्थितान्‌ युद्धदुर्मदै:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | gandharvanagarākārān rathāṁś caiva sukalpitān | vinītair javanair yuktān āsthitān yuddha-durmadān ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：檀那阇耶（阿周那）向敌军倾泻箭雨，将那些构造精妙的战车击得粉碎——其形制宛如乾闼婆的奇城——战车由训练有素、迅疾如风的骏马牵引，其上坐着因战斗傲气而狂的武士。就在这同一轮猛攻中，他也击倒了装饰华美的骑兵与步卒。

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वनगराकारान्: having the form of a Gandharva-city (illusory city)
• गन्धर्वनगराकारान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्वनगराकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सुकल्पितान्: well-constructed / well-arranged
• सुकल्पितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-कल्पित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विनीतैः: by well-trained (disciplined)
• विनीतैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• जवनैः: horses (swift ones)
• जवनैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जवन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• युक्तान्: yoked / harnessed
• युक्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आस्थितान्: mounted/occupied (ridden)
• आस्थितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु: स्था)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• युद्धदुर्मदैः: by those maddened with battle-fury
• युद्धदुर्मदैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युद्ध-दुर्मद
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dhananjaya (Arjuna)
• Gandharvas
• chariots (ratha)
• horses (javana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical warning against yuddha-durmada—battle-born arrogance. Splendor, numbers, and pride do not protect one in adharma-driven conflict; disciplined prowess and steadfast purpose can overturn even impressive military displays.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s battlefield action: he rains arrows, breaks apart well-equipped chariots drawn by trained swift horses and ridden by war-proud fighters, and he also fells decorated cavalry and infantry.