Shloka 54
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
तत्राहमधिक: पार्थाद् धनुषा तेन पार्थिव । येन चाप्यधिको वीर: पाण्डवस्तन्निबोध मे,राजन! धनुषकी दृष्टिसे तो मैं ही अर्जुनसे बढ़ा-चढ़ा हूँ; परंतु वीर पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुन जिसके कारण मुझसे बढ़ जाते हैं, वह भी सुन लो
tatrāham adhikaḥ pārthād dhanuṣā tena pārthiva | yena cāpy adhiko vīraḥ pāṇḍavas tan nibodha me, rājan ||
In that respect, O king, I am superior to Partha in the use of the bow. Yet, O Rajan, listen from me to the reason by which that heroic son of Pandu becomes superior to me.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna distinguishes between technical prowess and the deeper causes of victory: one may claim superiority in skill, yet acknowledge that another surpasses due to a decisive factor beyond mere technique—implying the role of supporting conditions such as discipline, divine favor, or righteous alignment.
In the Karna Parva, Karna addresses the king and asserts that in bowmanship he is greater than Arjuna, but he then prepares to explain the specific reason why Arjuna nevertheless becomes greater than him overall.