Shloka 49
Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)
मा योत्सी: कुरुभि: सार्थध बलवद्धिश्व पाण्डव । सदृशैस्तात युध्यस्व व्रीडां मा कुरु पाण्डव
sañjaya uvāca |
mā yotsīḥ kurubhiḥ sārthad balavaddhiśva pāṇḍava |
sadṛśais tāta yudhyasva vrīḍāṃ mā kuru pāṇḍava ||
Sanjaya said: “O Pandava, do not fight with the Kurus—those mighty warriors. Fight only with those who are your equals, dear one; do not be ashamed.” In context, this is spoken as a cutting rebuke meant to humiliate Nakula: Karna, after repeatedly striking him with arrows, taunts him to stop challenging superior foes and to withdraw if he wishes—thus mixing battlefield prowess with deliberate psychological warfare.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, speech can be used as a weapon: Karna’s taunt aims to break an opponent’s morale by invoking hierarchy of strength and the fear of shame. Ethically, it contrasts valor with cruelty—martial prowess is shown alongside deliberate humiliation.
During the Karna Parva battle, Karna confronts Nakula, wounds him repeatedly, and then dismisses him with scornful advice: do not fight the mighty Kuru warriors; fight only your equals and do not feel ashamed—implying Nakula should withdraw.