Shloka 11

Adhyāya 35 — Bhīmasena’s Counter-Encirclement and the Karṇa Engagement Escalation

Devanagari script

ततः शल्यदश्रितं दृष्टवा कर्ण: स्वं रथमुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ śalyadaśritaṁ dṛṣṭvā karṇaḥ svaṁ ratham uttamam

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后，迦尔那见到自己那乘上等战车如今由沙利耶掌持，便将目光与心思转向它——这是一种不祥的昭告：纵有最精良的战争器具，也终究系于驾驭者的沉稳与忠诚。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• शल्यदाश्रितम्: having taken refuge in/attached to Śalya
• शल्यदाश्रितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्रित (√श्रि + आ- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृष्ट्वा (√दृश्, त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

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

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Śalya
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even superior resources (like an ‘excellent chariot’) become effective or ineffective depending on the character and intent of those who direct them; in dharmic reflection, means are subordinate to guidance, loyalty, and right purpose.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates that Karṇa notices his own splendid chariot being ‘under Śalya’—i.e., with Śalya acting as his charioteer—setting the stage for the tense dynamic between warrior and charioteer in the battle context.