Shloka 21
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
या गाथा: सम्प्रगायन्ति कुर्वन्तो5ध्ययनं यथा । ता गाथा: शृणु मे शल्य मद्रकेषु दुरात्मसु,मूर्ख शल्य! स्त्रियाँ, बच्चे और बूढ़े लोग, खेलकूदमें लगे हुए मनुष्य और स्वाध्याय करनेवाले पुरुष भी दुरात्मा मद्रनिवासियोंके विषयमें जिन गाथाओंको गाया करते हैं तथा ब्राह्मणोंने पहले राजाके समीप आकर यथावत् रूपसे जिनका वर्णन किया है, उन गाथाओंको एकाग्रचित्त होकर मुझसे सुनो और सुनकर चुपचाप सह लो या जवाब दो
yā gāthāḥ sampragāyanti kurvanto 'dhyayanaṃ yathā | tā gāthāḥ śṛṇu me śalya madrakeṣu durātmasu ||
Karna said: “Those ballads that people sing aloud—just as students recite their lessons—hear them from me, O Śalya: the verses spoken about the wicked Madra folk. Listen with a focused mind; and having heard, either endure them in silence or give your reply.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech in a charged setting: Karna frames public ridicule as ‘gāthāḥ’ widely repeated like formal recitation, implying that reputation can be shaped by communal narratives. It also presents a challenge-response ethic—either bear the words with restraint or answer—showing how honor contests can escalate through speech.
On the battlefield context of Karṇa Parva, Karna addresses Śalya (the Madra king) and announces that he will recite commonly sung verses criticizing the Madras. He demands Śalya listen attentively and then either remain silent or respond, setting up a verbal confrontation that parallels the martial conflict.