Shloka 44

Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)

Devanagari script

तद्‌ भार्गवाय प्रायच्छच्छक्र: परमसम्मतम्‌ । तद्‌ दिव्यं भार्गवो महा[मददादू धनुरुत्तमम्‌

Transliteration

tad bhārgavāya prāyacchac chakraḥ paramasammatam | tad divyaṃ bhārgavo mahātmā dadau me dhanur uttamam ||

Translation

Karna said: “Indra (the wielder of the discus), holding it in the highest esteem, bestowed that divine bow upon Bhārgava (Paraśurāma). And that great-souled Bhārgava, in turn, gave that supreme bow to me.”

Word by Word

• {'tad': 'that (aforementioned)', 'bhārgavāya': 'to Bhārgava

• to Paraśurāma (descendant of Bhṛgu)', 'prāyacchat': 'gave, bestowed', 'chakraḥ': '‘the discus(-bearer)’

• an epithet here for Indra (as in this passage’s usage)', 'parama-sammatam': 'highly approved/esteemed

• most cherished', 'divyam': 'divine, celestial', 'bhārgavaḥ': 'Bhārgava

• Paraśurāma', 'mahātmā': 'great-souled, noble', 'dadau': 'gave', 'me': 'to me', 'dhanuḥ': 'bow', 'uttamam': 'best, supreme'}

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• Indra (Śakra)
• Paraśurāma (Bhārgava)
• divine bow (dhanuḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power in the epic is repeatedly framed as legitimate when it is received through rightful channels—divine sanction and guru-transmission—rather than seized by mere force. Karna’s statement functions as an ethical justification: his prowess is presented as grounded in a respected lineage of bestowal.

What is happening in the narrative?

Karna is speaking about the provenance of a divine bow: Indra (Śakra) gave it to Paraśurāma (Bhārgava), and Paraśurāma later gave that same supreme bow to Karna. The verse supports Karna’s self-presentation as a warrior equipped through extraordinary, authoritative sources.