Shloka 16
Jayadratha Approaches Draupadī in the Forest
Hospitality, Persuasion, and Reproach
सद्यो वशं समापन्नः शत्रूणां शत्रुकर्शन | कर्ण बोला--राजन्! आज तुम जो यहाँ इतनी लघुताका अनुभव कर रहे हो, इसका कोई कारण मेरी समझमें नहीं आता। शत्रुनाशक वीर! यदि एक बार शत्रुओंके वशमें पड़ जानेपर पाण्डवोंने तुम्हें छुड़ाया है, तो इसमें कौन अद्भुत बात हो गयी?
sadyo vaśaṃ samāpannaḥ śatrūṇāṃ śatrukarśana | karṇa uvāca—rājan! adya tvaṃ yatraivaṃ laghutāṃ anubhavasi, asyāḥ kāraṇaṃ mama buddhyā na pratibhāti. śatrunāśaka vīra! yadi ekavāraṃ śatrūṇāṃ vaśaṃ gatam api tvāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ mocitaṃ, tatra kim adbhutaṃ jātaṃ?
قال كارنا: «أيها الملك، لا أفهم لِمَ تشعر بهذا القدر من المهانة هنا والآن. يا بطلَ قهرِ الأعداء! إن كنتَ قد وقعتَ مرةً في قبضة الخصوم ثم أنقذك البانداڤا، فأيُّ عجبٍ في ذلك؟»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna reframes humiliation as misplaced: being rescued after falling into enemy control is not inherently shameful or extraordinary. The verse highlights a warrior-code emphasis on composure and realistic appraisal of fortune in conflict, rather than self-debasement or exaggerated awe at an opponent’s act.
Karna addresses a king who feels slighted or humiliated. He argues that if the Pandavas once freed the king from enemy captivity, it is not a miracle—implying the king should not overreact emotionally or politically to that incident.