Shloka 38

कृष्णोपदेशः, अर्जुनस्य क्षमा-याचनम्, कर्णवध-अनुज्ञा

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

Devanagari script

स तेनातिप्रहारेण व्यथितो विह्वलजन्निव

Transliteration

sa tenātiprahāreṇa vyathito vihvalajan niva

Translation

三阇耶说道：遭那极其猛烈的一击，他痛得战栗，仿佛五识被压倒一般，在战场上踉跄失措，神志昏乱。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेन: by that (one/it)
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अतिप्रहारेण: by a very severe blow/strike
• अतिप्रहारेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिप्रहार
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• व्यथितः: pained, afflicted
• व्यथितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यथित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विह्वलः: bewildered, stunned
• विह्वलः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जनः: a person
• जनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if, like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even the mightiest warrior can be destabilized by the force of consequences in war; the verse underscores the fragility of embodied strength and the ethical weight of violent action, where a single overpowering strike can reduce a combatant to confusion and suffering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a combatant who, after receiving a very powerful blow, becomes pained and unsteady—appearing like someone whose senses are overwhelmed—indicating a turning point in the immediate exchange of strikes.