Mahabharata
Ghaṭotkaca-vadha-parva (ghaṭotkaca-niyoga) (Ghaṭotkaca Is Sent Against Karṇa)7.148.21–24
8170 / 15823
Mahabharata · 7.148.21–24
Devanāgarī

पश्य कर्णं महेष्वासं धनुष्पाणिम् अवस्थितम् ॥
निशीथे दारुणे काले तपन्तम् इव भास्करम् ॥
कर्णसायकनुन्नानां क्रोशताम् एष निस्वनः ॥
अनिशं श्रूयते पार्थ त्वद्बन्धूनाम् अनाथवत् ॥
यथा विसृजतश् चास्य संदधानस्य चाशुगान् ॥
पश्यामि जयविक्रान्तं क्षपयिष्यति नो ध्रुवम् ॥
यद् अत्रानन्तरं कार्यं प्राप्तकालं प्रपश्यसि ॥
कर्णस्य वधसंयुक्तं तत् कुरुष्व धनंजय ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

paśya karṇaṃ maheṣvāsaṃ dhanuṣpāṇim avasthitam ||
niśīthe dāruṇe kāle tapantam iva bhāskaram ||
karṇasāyakanunnānāṃ krośatām eṣa nisvanaḥ ||
aniśaṃ śrūyate pārtha tvadbandhūnām anāthavat ||
yathā visṛjataś cāsya saṃdadhānasya cāśugān ||
paśyāmi jayavikrāntaṃ kṣapayiṣyati no dhruvam ||
yad atrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ prāptakālaṃ prapaśyasi ||
karṇasya vadhasaṃyuktaṃ tat kuruṣva dhanaṃjaya ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
पश्य कर्णम् महेष्वासम्paśya karṇam maheṣvāsam"behold Karna, the great archer; "behold Karna, the great archer
धनुष्पाणिम् अवस्थितम्dhanuṣpāṇim avasthitamstanding, bow in hand; standing with bow in hand
निशीथे दारुणे कालेniśīthe dāruṇe kāleat midnight, in a dreadful hour; at midnight, in a dreadful hour
तपन्तम् इव भास्करम्tapantam iva bhāskaramlike the blazing sun; like the blazing sun
कर्णसायकनुन्नानाम्karṇasāyakanunnānāmof those struck down by Karna's arrows; of those struck down by Karna's arrows
क्रोशताम् एषः निस्वनःkrośatām eṣaḥ nisvanaḥthis is the sound of those crying out; this is the sound of those crying out
अनिशम् श्रूयते पार्थaniśam śrūyate pārthais heard unceasing, o Partha; is heard unceasing, o Partha
त्वद्बन्धूनाम् अनाथवत्tvadbandhūnām anāthavatof your kinsmen, as of the helpless; of your kinsmen, as of the helpless
यथा विसृजतः च अस्यyathā visṛjataḥ ca asyaas of him, loosing; as of him, loosing arrows
संदधानस्य च आशुगान्saṃdadhānasya ca āśugānand fitting swift arrows [to the string]; and fitting swift arrows to the string
पश्यामि जयविक्रान्तम्paśyāmi jayavikrāntamI see [him], victorious in valor; I see him, victorious in valor
क्षपयिष्यति नः ध्रुवम्kṣapayiṣyati naḥ dhruvamhe will surely destroy us; he will surely destroy us
यत् अत्र अनन्तरम् कार्यम्yat atra anantaram kāryamwhat here is the immediate task; whatever task here is immediate
प्राप्तकालम् प्रपश्यसिprāptakālam prapaśyasithat you see fitting for the hour; that you see as fitting for the hour
कर्णस्य वधसंयुक्तम्karṇasya vadhasaṃyuktamconnected with the slaying of Karna; connected with the slaying of Karna
तत् कुरुष्व धनंजयtat kuruṣva dhanaṃjayathat do, Dhananjaya"; do that, o Dhananjaya"
Translation

"Behold Karna, the great archer, standing with bow in hand, at midnight, in a dreadful hour, like the blazing sun. This is the sound of those struck down by Karna's arrows, crying out — it is heard unceasing, o Partha, of your kinsmen, as of the helpless. As I see him loosing and fitting swift arrows to the string, victorious in valor, he will surely destroy us. Whatever task here is immediate, whatever you see as fitting for the hour, connected with the slaying of Karna — do that, o Dhananjaya."

Version

cdbd5d39a2e7 · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:49:34 PM UTC

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