Shloka 166
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
अप्यपश्यत राधेयं शीतार्ता इव भास्करम् | धृतराष्ट्रने पूछा--सूत! तत्पश्चात् दुर्योधनने क्या किया। मूर्खो! तुमलोगोंका मन जो वैकर्तन कर्णकी ओर गया था, उसका क्या कारण है। जैसे शीतसे पीड़ित हुए प्राणी सूर्यकी ओर देखते हैं, क्या उसी प्रकार तुमलोग भी राधापुत्र कर्णकी ओर देखते थे?
apy apaśyata rādhēyaṁ śītārtā iva bhāskaram |
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—শীতত কাতৰ প্ৰাণীবোৰে যেনেকৈ সূৰ্যৰ ফালে চায়, তেনেকৈ তোমালোকেও ৰাধেয় (কৰ্ণ)ৰ ফালে চাইছিলা নে? যুদ্ধসঙ্কটত কৌৰৱৰ আশা আৰু দৃষ্টি একমাত্ৰ আশ্ৰয়ৰ দৰে কৰ্ণৰ ওপৰত স্থিৰ হৈছিল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a simile to show how people in distress instinctively turn to what they believe can save them. Ethically, it highlights the difference between relying on sheer power (a heroic warrior) and relying on dharma; in crisis, attachment to a single strong protector can eclipse moral discernment.
Sañjaya, narrating the battlefield events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, points out that the Kaurava side’s gaze and expectation were fixed on Karna, as if he were the sun to those suffering from cold—implying that they saw him as their chief hope in the unfolding combat.