Shloka 32

Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ

Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit

Devanagari script

कर्ण संशप्तकांश्षैव पार्थस्यामित्रघातिन:

Transliteration

karṇa saṁśaptakāṁś caiva pārthasyāmitraghātinaḥ

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那曰：迦尔那偕同三誓军（Saṁśaptaka），起而与帕尔他——阿周那，灭敌者——为敌，欲在战场上与之相抗并加以牵制。

Word by Word

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

• संशप्तकान्: the Samsaptakas (sworn warriors)
• संशप्तकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशप्तक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• पार्थस्य: of Partha (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अमित्रघातिनः: enemy-slaying
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित्रघातिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Karna
• Saṁśaptakas
• Pārtha (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of binding vows and confronting a worthy opponent: warriors like the Saṁśaptakas accept extreme commitments, showing how resolve and loyalty can drive action—yet also how such vows intensify violence and rivalry.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that Karṇa, together with the vowed Saṁśaptaka warriors, positions himself against Arjuna (Pārtha), renowned as a destroyer of enemies—indicating an organized attempt to challenge or contain Arjuna in combat.