Shloka 27

कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा

Krishna’s Counsel, Arjuna’s Apology, and Authorization for Karṇa’s Slaying

Devanagari script

ततः कर्णो महाराज आशीविष इव श्वसन्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ karṇo mahārāja āśīviṣa iva śvasan

Translation

随后，迦尔纳啊，大王，喘息如毒蛇吐信——那灼热而粗厉的气息昭示着怒焰与致命决意的涌起，战场上道义与情感的张力也随之愈发紧绷。

Word by Word

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

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाराज: O great king
• महाराज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• आशीविषः: a venomous serpent
• आशीविषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशीविष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like, as if
• इव: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव
• Form: अव्यय (उपमावाचक)

• श्वसन्: breathing, hissing
• श्वसन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• venomous serpent (simile)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a serpent-simile to show how unchecked anger and pride can become ‘poisonous’ in war—intensifying violence and narrowing ethical judgment. It highlights how inner states (wrath, agitation) shape outward action and its consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Karṇa’s immediate reaction in the battle: he is visibly agitated, breathing hard like a venomous snake, indicating readiness to strike with deadly intent and signaling an escalation in the combat mood.