Shloka 793
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
शकुनि: सीबलस्तात हते कर्णे किमब्रवीत् । तात! पहले द्यूतक्रीड़ाका आयोजन करके पाण्डवोंको ठग लेनेके बाद जिसे बड़ा हर्ष हुआ था, वह सुबल-पुत्र शकुनि कर्णके मारे जानेपर क्या बोला?
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — Śakuniḥ Saubalastāta hate Karṇe kim abravīt | Tāṭa! pūrvaṁ dyūtakrīḍākā āyojanaṁ kṛtvā Pāṇḍavān ṭhagitvā yaḥ mahān harṣaṁ lebhe, sa Saubala-putraḥ Śakuniḥ Karṇasya māraṇe kim avadat?
قال فايشَمبايانا: «يا بُنيّ، حين قُتِل كَرْنَة، ماذا قال شَكُوني ابن سُبَلا؟ ذلك الذي كان قد طرب فرحًا حين دبّر لعبة النرد وخدع فانتزع من آل پاندڤا حقوقهم—أيَّ كلامٍ نطق به شَكُوني عند موت كَرْنَة؟»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical contrast: the same agent who once rejoiced after orchestrating deceit (the dice-game) is now questioned about his response to a major wartime death. It highlights how adharma-driven actions and attitudes persist across contexts, and invites reflection on the moral consequences of manipulation and cruelty.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana poses a question about Śakuni’s words after Karṇa’s death. It serves as a transition, preparing the listener for Śakuni’s reaction and commentary in the aftermath of Karṇa being slain in the Kurukṣetra war.