Shloka 28
Aśvatthāman’s Arrow-Screen and the Confrontation with Yudhiṣṭhira (द्रौणि–युधिष्ठिर-संग्रामः)
गायन्ति चाप्यबद्धानि प्रवर्तन्ते च कामतः । कामप्रलापिनो<चन्योन्यं तेषु धर्म: कथं भवेत्
gāyanti cāpy abaddhāni pravartante ca kāmataḥ | kāmapralāpino 'nyonyaṃ teṣu dharmaḥ kathaṃ bhavet ||
Sie singen sogar wirre, unzusammenhängende Lieder und handeln einzig nach der Laune des Begehrens. Wenn Menschen einander im Gestammel der Leidenschaft anreden, wie könnte unter ihnen Dharma entstehen?
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
When desire governs speech and behavior—producing incoherent, passion-driven talk—dharma (right order and ethical conduct) cannot be established; self-restraint is presented as a prerequisite for dharma.
Karna is speaking critically about people whose actions and words are driven by kāma (passion), arguing that such a state of mind undermines the possibility of dharma among them.