Shloka 12
Adhyāya 2: Nārada’s Disclosure—Karṇa’s Training and the Brahmin’s Curse (Śānti-parva)
द्रोणस्तथोक्त: कर्णेन सापेक्ष: फाल्गुनं प्रति । दौरात्म्यं चैव कर्णस्य विदित्वा तमुवाच ह,कर्णके ऐसा कहनेपर अर्जुनके प्रति पक्षपात रखनेवाले द्रोणाचार्य कर्णकी दुष्टताको समझकर उससे बोले--
droṇas tathoktaḥ karṇena sāpekṣaḥ phālgunaṃ prati | daurātmyaṃ caiva karṇasya viditvā tam uvāca ha ||
قال نارادا: لما قال كارنا ذلك، أدرك درونا—وكان يميل إلى فالغونا (أرجونا)—خبث نية كارنا، ثم خاطبه.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores ethical discernment: skill and instruction are not value-neutral, and a teacher must recognize when a student’s inner disposition (daurātmya) can turn learning into harm. It also points to the moral tension created by favoritism and rivalry, which can inflame resentment and adharma.
Karṇa has just spoken to Droṇa. Droṇa, who is inclined toward Arjuna (Phālguna), perceives Karṇa’s malicious intent and responds by addressing him directly—setting up a corrective or cautionary exchange grounded in Droṇa’s assessment of Karṇa’s character.