Shloka 72

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०

Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

एवं त्वमुच्छिष्ट भूतो धार्तराष्ट्रैन संशय: । सदृशान्‌ श्रेयसश्लापि सर्वान्‌ कर्णावमन्यसे,पूर्वकालमें वह कौआ जैसे वैश्यकुलमें सबकी जूठन खाकर पला था, उसी प्रकार धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रोंने तुम्हें जूठडन खिला-खिलाकर पाला है, इसमें संशय नहीं है। कर्ण! इसीसे तुम अपने समान तथा अपनेसे श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंका भी अपमान करते हो

Transliteration

evaṁ tvam ucchiṣṭa-bhūto dhārtarāṣṭrair na saṁśayaḥ | sadṛśān śreyasaś cāpi sarvān karṇāvamanyase ||

Translation

It is beyond doubt that you have been raised on the leavings of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. And for that very reason, O Karṇa, you now show contempt for everyone—those equal to you and even those superior—forgetting what is truly honorable.

Word by Word

• {'evaṁ': 'thus, in this manner', 'tvam': 'you', 'ucchiṣṭa-bhūtaḥ': 'one who has become dependent on leftovers

• figuratively, one sustained by another’s refuse/favor', 'dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ': 'by the sons/party of Dhṛtarāṣṭra (the Kauravas)', 'na saṁśayaḥ': 'no doubt, certainly', 'sadṛśān': 'equals, those similar (in status/ability)', 'śreyasaḥ': 'betters, superiors, those more excellent', 'cāpi': 'and also', 'sarvān': 'all (people)', 'karṇa': 'O Karṇa', 'avamanyase': 'you despise, you disrespect, you treat with contempt'}

Speaker

काक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• काक (Crow)
• कर्ण (Karna)
• धृतराष्ट्रपुत्राः / धार्तराष्ट्राः (sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; Kauravas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse criticizes arrogance born from dependence: when one is sustained by another’s favors (here, metaphorically ‘leftovers’), it can breed shameless pride and contempt for equals and superiors. Ethically, it warns that true honor lies in humility, discernment of merit, and respectful speech, not in belittling others.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker ‘Crow’ addresses Karṇa with a harsh rebuke, asserting that Karṇa has been nurtured by the Kauravas’ patronage and therefore has developed a habit of insulting others—both peers and those greater than himself. It functions as a moral censure within the war narrative, targeting Karṇa’s conduct and speech.