Shloka 161
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
सर्वथा न हायं शल्य कर्ण: सूतकुलोद्धव: । सकुण्डलं सकवचं दीर्घबाहुं महारथम्
sarvathā na hāyaṃ śalya karṇaḥ sūtakulodbhavaḥ | sakuṇḍalaṃ sakavacaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahāratham ||
Duryodhana said: “In no way, O Śalya, is this Karṇa merely a man born of a charioteer’s clan. Adorned with earrings and armored in his cuirass, long-armed and a great chariot-warrior, he stands as a foremost hero.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between birth-based social labeling and demonstrated excellence: Duryodhana insists that Karṇa should not be diminished as merely “sūta-born,” emphasizing merit, heroic qualities, and martial stature as grounds for honor.
In the Karṇa Parva context, Duryodhana addresses Śalya (Karṇa’s charioteer) to defend and elevate Karṇa’s standing, describing him as a fully equipped, long-armed mahāratha—countering disparagement rooted in Karṇa’s supposed low birth.