Shloka 45
कर्णभीमसमागमः | Karṇa–Bhīma Encounter
कर्णने कहा--मद्रराज! जैसे ब्रह्मा महादेवजीके और श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुनके हितमें सदा तत्पर रहते हैं, उसी प्रकार आप भी निरन्तर हमारे हितसाधनमें संलग्न रहें ।।
śalya uvāca | ātma-nindā ātma-pūjā ca para-nindā para-stavaḥ | anācaritam āryāṇāṁ vṛttam etac catur-vidham ||
Karna said: “O king of Madra! As Brahmā is ever intent upon Mahādeva’s good, and as Kṛṣṇa is ever intent upon Arjuna’s good, so too remain continually engaged in securing our welfare.” Śalya said: “Self-deprecation and self-glorification, as well as disparaging others and praising others—these four modes of conduct are not practiced by the noble.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Noble conduct avoids four speech-patterns driven by ego or hostility: self-blame, self-praise, blaming others, and praising others (often as flattery). The verse recommends restraint and balance in evaluating oneself and others.
In Karna Parva, Shalya speaks amid tense wartime interactions. He frames a norm of honorable discourse, implicitly cautioning against demoralizing criticism or manipulative praise in the midst of strategic and emotional conflict.