Shloka 17
Draupadī’s Identification of the Pāṇḍavas and the Onset of the Chariot Engagement (द्रौपदी-पाण्डव-परिचयः)
त्वद् द्वेषाच्च महाबाहो ममापि द्वेष्टमर्हति । विगर्हते च मां नित्यं॑ त्वत्समीपे नरेश्वर,महाबाहो! वे तुम्हारे प्रति द्वेष होनेसे मुझसे भी द्वेष रखते हैं। नरेश्वर! तुम्हारे सामने वे सदा मेरी निन्दा ही किया करते हैं
tvad-dveṣāc ca mahābāho mamāpi dveṣṭam arhati | vigarhate ca māṁ nityaṁ tvat-samīpe nareśvara ||
Karna sprach: „O du Mächtigarmiger! Aus ihrem Hass gegen dich halten sie es auch für recht, mich zu hassen. O Herr der Menschen, selbst in deiner Gegenwart schmähen sie mich unablässig.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how hatred spreads by association: animosity toward one person can unjustly extend to allies, leading to habitual slander. Ethically, it warns against endorsing or tolerating disparagement in one’s presence, since a ruler’s proximity and silence can legitimize wrongdoing.
Karna complains to a kingly figure he addresses as “mighty-armed” and “lord of men” that certain people, because they hate the addressee, also feel justified in hating Karna and repeatedly speak ill of him right in front of that ruler.