Shloka 30

अध्याय २९ — वासुदेव–संजय संवादः

Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and the Ethics of Governance

Devanagari script

यः पाण्डवानेकरथेन वीर: समुत्सहत्यप्रधृष्यान्‌ विजेतुम्‌ । यो मुहातां मोहयिताद्वितीयो वैकर्तन: कुशलं तस्य पृच्छे:

Transliteration

yaḥ pāṇḍavān ekarathena vīraḥ samutsahaty apradhṛṣyān vijetum | yo mūḍhatāṃ mohayitā dvitīyo vaikartanaḥ kuśalaṃ tasya pṛcche ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: „Ich erkundige mich auch nach dem Wohlergehen jenes Vaikartana (Karna)—des Helden, der selbst mit nur einem Streitwagen den Mut hat, den Sieg über die unbezwingbaren Pāṇḍavas zu suchen, und der seinesgleichen nicht hat darin, die Söhne Dhṛtarāṣṭras, die schon im Wahn versunken sind, noch tiefer zu verblenden.“

Word by Word

• {'yaḥ': 'who', 'pāṇḍavān': 'the Pāṇḍavas', 'ekarathena': 'with a single chariot

• single-handedly (lit. ‘by one chariot’)', 'vīraḥ': 'hero, valiant man', 'samutsahati': 'dares, ventures, is bold enough', 'apradhṛṣyān': 'unassailable, hard to overpower', 'vijetum': 'to conquer', 'mūḍhatām': 'folly, delusion, stupidity (state of being mūḍha)', 'mohayitā': 'one who deludes, confounds', 'dvitīyaḥ': 'a second (i.e., equal/peer)

• here implying ‘second to none’ or ‘without a second’ in effect', 'vaikartanaḥ': 'Vaikartana, Karna (son of the sun

• epithet linked with his origin/lineage)', 'kuśalam': 'welfare, well-being, health', 'tasya': 'of him', 'pṛcche': 'I ask (after), I inquire'}

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Pāṇḍavas
• Vaikartana (Karna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse juxtaposes valor with moral clarity: mere martial confidence—‘conquering the unconquerable’—can coexist with, or even be fueled by, moha (delusion). It hints that ethical discernment (freedom from moha) is as crucial as strength, and that influencing others’ delusion is a grave moral fault even when performed by a great hero.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira, speaking in the Udyoga Parva context of impending war and diplomatic exchange, inquires about Karna’s welfare. His words are edged with irony: he acknowledges Karna’s famed single-handed prowess while also criticizing his role in reinforcing the Kauravas’ misguided resolve.