Shloka 15
“आज युद्धमें हम दुरात्माओंके देखते-देखते मेरे चित्रसेन आदि भाई भीमसेनसे भिड़कर नष्ट हो गये” ।। कर्ण उवाच आचार्य मा विगर्हस्व शक््त्यासौ युध्यते द्विज: । यथाबलं यथोत्साहं त्यक्त्वा जीवितमात्मन:
Karṇa uvāca: ācārya mā vigarhasva śaktyāsau yudhyate dvijaḥ | yathābalaṃ yathotsāhaṃ tyaktvā jīvitam ātmanaḥ ||
Karṇa said: “Teacher, do not censure him. That brahmin fights with his spear-weapon. Having cast aside concern for his own life, he is battling according to his strength and according to his courage.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karṇa urges ethical restraint in judging a combatant: one should not reproach a fighter who is using his own means and courage, especially when he has accepted mortal risk. The verse highlights respect for valor and the principle of assessing action in light of capacity (yathābalaṃ) and intent/effort (yathotsāham).
In the midst of the Drona Parva battle, Karṇa addresses Droṇa and asks him not to condemn a brahmin combatant who is fighting with a śakti (spear). Karṇa frames the fighter’s conduct as wholehearted and life-risking, thus worthy of acknowledgment rather than blame.