Mahabharata · 7.31.59–60
॥
Devanāgarī
ततः शत्रुंजयं हत्वा पार्थः षड्भिर् अजिह्मगैः ॥
जहार सद्यो भल्लेन विपाटस्य शिरो रथात् ॥
पश्यतां धार्तराष्ट्राणाम् एकेनैव किरीटिना ॥
प्रमुखे सूतपुत्रस्य सोदर्या निहतास् त्रयः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tataḥ śatruṃjayaṃ hatvā pārthaḥ ṣaḍbhir ajihmagaiḥ ||
jahāra sadyo bhallena vipāṭasya śiro rathāt ||
paśyatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇām ekenaiva kirīṭinā ||
pramukhe sūtaputrasya sodaryā nihatās trayaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततःtataḥthen; then
शत्रुंजयम्śatruṃjayamShatrunjaya; Shatrunjaya
हत्वाhatvāhaving slain [struck down]; having struck down
पार्थःpārthaḥPartha [Arjuna]; Partha
षड्भिः अजिह्मगैःṣaḍbhiḥ ajihmagaiḥwith six straight-flying [arrows]; with six straight-flying
जहारjahārasevered [cut off]; severed
सद्यःsadyaḥinstantly [at once]; instantly
भल्लेनbhallenawith a bhalla [broad-headed arrow]; with a bhalla-arrow
विपाटस्यvipāṭasyaof Vipata; [of] Vipata
शिरःśiraḥhead; head
रथात्rathātfrom the chariot; from the chariot
पश्यताम्paśyatāmbefore the eyes [of those watching]; before the eyes [of]
धार्तराष्ट्राणाम्dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāmof the Dhartarashtras [sons of Dhritarashtra]; of the Dhartarashtras
एकेन एवekena evaby one alone; by one alone
किरीटिनाkirīṭināthe Diademed [Arjuna]; the Diademed One
प्रमुखेpramukhein the presence [in sight]; in the presence
सूतपुत्रस्यsūtaputrasyaof the son of the suta [Karna]; of the son of the suta [Karna]
सोदर्याःsodaryāḥown brothers [full brothers]; own brothers
निहताःnihatāḥslain [struck down]; struck down
त्रयःtrayaḥthree; three
Translation
Then, having struck down Shatrunjaya with six straight-flying arrows, Partha instantly severed Vipata's head from his chariot with a bhalla-arrow. Before the eyes of the Dhartarashtras, by the Diademed One alone, in the presence of the son of the suta, three of Karna's own brothers were struck down.
Version
e3c65030f2c3 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:22:09 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Three of Karna's own brothers perish before his eyes at the hand of Arjuna alone — and the narrative emphasizes: 'in the presence of the son of the suta.' To watch one's brothers die and be powerless to save them is a torment worse than any wound. It is telling that Arjuna alone accomplishes this 'before the eyes of all the Dhartarashtras' — a lesson in their helplessness. The verse teaches that there are sufferings heavier than bodily ones — to watch kin perish and be unable to shield them; that war wounds not only the body but the heart, forcing one who loves to watch the death of the beloved; and that the narrative, dwelling on this torment of Karna, reminds us: even in a fearsome enemy lives the capacity to grieve for loved ones, and his sorrow for his brothers is as genuine as the sorrow of any father or brother.