Shloka 36

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

वाराहकर्णनाराचै्नलीकैर्निशितै: शरै: । वत्सदन्तैविपादैश्न क्षुरप्रैश्चटकामुखै:,पांचालवीर जनमेजयने रथ, हाथी और घुड़सवारोंकी सेना साथ लेकर सब ओरसे कर्णपर धावा किया और उसे मार डालनेकी इच्छासे घेरकर बाण, वाराहकर्ण, नाराच, नालीक, पैने बाण, वत्सदन्त, विपाठ, क्षुरप्र, चटकामुख तथा नाना प्रकारके भयंकर अस्त्र- शस्त्रोंद्वारा चोट पहुँचाना आरम्भ किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

vārāhakarṇanārācair nālīkair niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

vatsadantair vipādaiś ca kṣurapraiś ca caṭakāmukhaiḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：随后，般遮罗诸勇士推进战车、战象与骑兵，从四面八方涌向迦尔那。为求取其命，他们将他围困，遂以箭矢齐发——“野猪耳”矢、那罗遮、那利迦、刃利之镖、瓦特萨丹塔、毗帕陀、克舒罗普罗与“鹦鹉喙”矢——并以其他凶猛兵器相加，使战斗化作对意志与武士之法的无情考验。

Word by Word

वाराहकर्णwith boar-ear–shaped arrows (varāhakarṇa missiles)

नाराचैःwith nārāca arrows (iron-pointed shafts)

नालीकैःwith nālīka arrows

निशितैःwith sharpened

शरैःwith arrows

वत्सदन्तैःwith vatsa-danta arrows (calf-tooth–like)

विपाठैःwith vipāṭha missiles/arrows

क्षुरप्रैःwith kṣurapra arrows (razor-headed)

चटकामुखैःwith caṭakāmukha arrows (sparrow-beak–shaped)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

Pāñcāla warriors

chariots

elephants

horsemen

arrows (vārāhakarṇa, nārāca, nālīka, vatsadanta, vipāda, kṣurapra, caṭakāmukha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma: warriors are bound to confront danger and opposition without retreat. Ethically, it highlights how duty in war can demand steadfastness even amid overwhelming violence, while also reminding the reader that martial excellence and resolve are continually tested by collective effort and strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Pāñcāla forces attacking Karṇa from all sides with combined arms—chariots, elephants, and cavalry—then showering him with many specialized arrow types, attempting to encircle and kill him in the thick of battle.