Shloka 6
Śalya’s Objection to Sārathya and Duryodhana’s Conciliation (शल्यमन्यु-प्रशमनम् / Sārathyāṅgīkāra)
प्रहरस्व च मे वीर पश्यामस्तव पौरुषम् । कर्म कृत्वा रणे शूर ततः कत्थितुमरहसि
sañjaya uvāca |
praharasva ca me vīra paśyāmas tava pauruṣam |
karma kṛtvā raṇe śūra tataḥ katthitum arhasi ||
Sañjaya said: “Strike at me, O hero; let us see your manly prowess. O brave warrior, after you have performed deeds worthy of a prince and an archer on the battlefield, then you may boast about them.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Words must be validated by action: in a warrior’s ethic, boasting is only justified after demonstrating valor through concrete deeds in battle.
In the Karṇa Parva battle exchange, Karṇa responds to Nakula’s provocation by challenging him to attack and prove his prowess first, insisting that only after battlefield performance may one speak proudly.