Shloka 14
Arjuna’s Self-Identification and the Ten Names
Uttara–Arjuna Saṃvāda
कर्ण उवाच सदा भवान् फाल्गुनस्य गुणैरस्मान् विकत्थसे । न चार्जुन: कलापूर्णो मम दुर्योधनस्य च
karṇa uvāca sadā bhavān phālgunasya guṇair asmān vikatthase | na cārjunaḥ kalāpūrṇo mama duryodhanasya ca ||
Karna sagte: „Du prahlst uns stets mit den Vorzügen Phalguna (Arjunas). Doch Arjuna ist nicht in allen Künsten vollkommen — ebenso wenig wie ich und Duryodhana.“
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how praise and reputation can become fuel for rivalry and pride. Karna objects to repeated glorification of Arjuna, implying that no warrior is flawless; ethical discernment requires seeing beyond partisan boasting and recognizing human limitation.
In the Virata Parva context, Karna responds to someone who keeps extolling Arjuna (Phalguna). He pushes back, asserting that Arjuna is not ‘kalāpūrṇa’ (perfectly accomplished), and places himself and Duryodhana in the same competitive frame, reflecting the ongoing antagonism among the Kuru warriors.