Shloka 39
Nara-Nārāyaṇa Precedent and Bhīṣma’s Counsel on Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna; Karṇa’s Reply
सहितान् हि कुरून् सर्वानभियातो धनंजय: । प्रमथ्य चाच्छिनद् वास: किमयं प्रोषितस्तदा
sahitān hi kurūn sarvān abhiyāto dhanañjayaḥ | pramathya cācchinad vāsaḥ kim ayaṃ proṣitas tadā ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «حين تقدّم دهننْجَيا (أرجونا) وحده على جميع الكورو، فقهرهم وأغماهم، بل وسلب ثيابهم، أكان هذا الكَرْنَة يومئذٍ غائبًا في بلادٍ بعيدة؟»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Valor and reputation in a dharma-based warrior culture depend on showing up and bearing responsibility in decisive moments; absence during a crisis undermines later claims of heroism.
The speaker recalls an earlier episode where Arjuna single-handedly confronted the assembled Kurus, subdued them, and took their garments; he then pointedly asks whether Karṇa was away at that time, implying Karṇa did not face Arjuna then.