Shloka 30
हितार्थ पाण्डुपुत्राणां कुण्डले मे प्रयाचितुम् । तन्मे कीर्तिकरं लोके तस्याकीर्तिर्भविष्यति,यदि इन्द्र पाण्डवोंके हितके लिये मेरे कुण्डल माँगने आयेंगे तो इससे संसारमें मेरी कीर्ति बढ़ेगी और उनका अपयश होगा
hitārthaṃ pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ kuṇḍale me prayācitum | tan me kīrtikaraṃ loke tasyākīrtir bhaviṣyati ||
Karna sprach: „Wenn Indra kommt, um zum Wohl der Söhne Pāṇḍus meine Ohrringe zu erbitten, wird das meinen Ruhm in der Welt mehren, ihm aber Schande bringen.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ethical evaluation can hinge on intention and social meaning: giving (dāna) can elevate one’s kīrti, while asking for another’s protective possession—especially for partisan advantage—can be seen as morally compromising and thus a source of akīrti.
Karna anticipates that Indra, seeking the welfare of the Pāṇḍavas, will come in disguise to beg for Karna’s earrings. Karna interprets this future encounter as an opportunity: his own renown will grow by giving, and Indra’s reputation will suffer for making such a request.