Shloka 7
त्वं सूत स्यन्दनं महां कल्पयेत्यसकृत् त्वरन् । भारत! दुर्योधनके ऐसा कहनेपर शल्यने रथका स्पर्श करके कहा--“तथास्तु।” जब शल्यने सारथि होना पूर्णरूपसे स्वीकार कर लिया, तब कर्णने प्रसन्नचित्त होकर बारंबार अपने पूर्व सारथिसे शीघ्रतापूर्वक कहा--'सूत! तुम मेरा रथ सजाकर तैयार करो” ।। ६३ || ततो जैत्रं रथवरं गन्धर्वनगरोपमम्
sañjaya uvāca | tvaṃ sūta syandanaṃ mahān kalpayety asakṛt tvaran | bhārata! duryodhanake evaṃ kahanepara śalyena rathasya sparśaṃ kṛtvā uktam—“tathāstu” | yadā śalyena sārathitvaṃ pūrṇarūpeṇa svīkṛtam, tadā karṇena prasannacittena bāraṃbāraṃ sva-pūrva-sārathaye śīghratāpūrvakaṃ uktam—“sūta! tvaṃ mama rathaṃ sajjīkṛtya prastutaṃ kuru” || (uttarārdhaḥ) tato jaitraṃ rathavaraṃ gandharvanagaropamam |
Sanjaya said: Hurriedly and again and again Karna said to the charioteer, “O Suta, prepare my great chariot.” O Bharata, when Duryodhana spoke thus, Shalya touched the chariot and replied, “So be it.” When Shalya had fully accepted the role of charioteer, Karna—his mind pleased—repeatedly urged his former charioteer to make the chariot ready at once. Then there was brought forth the excellent, victory-bearing chariot, splendid like a city of the Gandharvas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights role-duty (dharma) and the ethics of consent in hierarchy: Shalya’s explicit assent (“tathāstu”) marks acceptance of responsibility, while Karna’s urgency shows how, in war, preparedness and disciplined execution become moral imperatives tied to one’s chosen side and obligations.
Karna repeatedly orders that his chariot be made ready. Duryodhana’s request leads Shalya to accept the position of Karna’s charioteer, signaled by touching the chariot and saying “tathāstu.” With Shalya’s acceptance secured, preparations proceed and the splendid, victory-associated chariot is brought forth.