Shloka 11

Devanagari script

एष शल्यो रथोपस्थे रश्मिसंचारकोविद: । सूतपुत्ररर्ं कृष्ण वाहयन्‌ बहु शोभते

Transliteration

eṣa śalyo rathopasthe raśmisañcārakovidaḥ | sūtaputrasya kṛṣṇa vāhayan bahu śobhate ||

Translation

阿周那说道：“看那沙利耶王——善于操缰——坐在战车的下座。奎师那啊，他为车夫之子（迦尔纳）驾车时，显得格外辉耀。”

Word by Word

• एषः: this (man)
• एषः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शल्यः: Shalya
• शल्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथोपस्थे: on/in the chariot-seat (chariot-platform)
• रथोपस्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• रश्मि-संचारक-कोविदः: skilled in handling the reins
• रश्मि-संचारक-कोविदः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रश्मिसंचारककोविद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सूतपुत्रम्: the charioteer’s son (Karna)
• सूतपुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूतपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वाहयन्: driving (conveying)
• वाहयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बहु: greatly, much
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु

• शोभते: shines, appears splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Lat (present), Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• श्रीकृष्ण: O Shri Krishna!
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Kṛṣṇa
• Śalya
• Karna (as Sūtaputra)
• chariot
• reins

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the contrast between outward glory and the moral complexity of war: even a great king may be placed in a subordinate role, and apparent splendor can coexist with compromised agency and conflicted loyalties—an implicit reminder to evaluate actions by dharma rather than by display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna points out to Kṛṣṇa that King Śalya, famed and capable, is seated on Karna’s chariot and expertly managing the reins as Karna’s charioteer, appearing impressive in that role.