Shloka 16

Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)

Devanagari script

अथान्यद्‌ धनुरादाय कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तदा । नकुल॑ पज्चभिर्बाणर्जत्रुदेशे समार्पयत्‌,तब वैकर्तन कर्णने दूसरा धनुष लेकर नकुलके गलेकी हँसलीपर पाँच बाण मारे

Transliteration

athānyad dhanur ādāya karṇo vaikartanas tadā | nakulaṁ pañcabhir bāṇair jatrudeśe samārpayat ||

Translation

桑阇耶说：于是车夫之子（外迦尔多那）迦尔那又执起另一张弓，以五箭射中那俱罗的锁骨之处。战势愈发凌厉，武艺与力量在精准的打击中显露无遗。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• अन्यत्: another (one)
• अन्यत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• आदाय: having taken
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वैकर्तनः: son of Vikartana (epithet of Karna)
• वैकर्तनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैकर्तन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• नकुलम्: Nakula
• नकुलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• जत्रु-देशे: in the collarbone region
• जत्रु-देशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जत्रु-देश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• समार्पयत्: he fixed/placed (struck)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्प्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karna
• Vaikartana
• Nakula
• bow
• arrows
• jatrudeśa (collarbone region)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the harsh reality of dharma in wartime: a kṣatriya’s duty is executed through disciplined martial action, yet the precision and intensity of violence reveal the moral strain inherent in righteous war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa switches to another bow and shoots Nakula with five arrows aimed at the collarbone/neck-joint area, demonstrating Karṇa’s continued aggression and technical mastery in the ongoing battle.