Shloka 76
तथा द्वैतवने कर्ण गन्धर्वै: समभिद्रुत: । कुरून् समग्रानुत्सज्य प्रथमं त्वं पलायित:,कर्ण! इसी प्रकार जब द्वैतवनमें ग्रन्धवोने आक्रमण किया था, उस समय समस्त कौरवोंको छोड़कर पहले तुमने ही पीठ दिखायी थी
tathā dvaitavane karṇa gandharvaiḥ samabhidrutaḥ | kurūn samagrān utsṛjya prathamaṃ tvaṃ palāyitaḥ, karṇa |
So too, O Karṇa—when, in the Dvaitavana, the Gandharvas launched their assault, you were the first to flee, turning your back and abandoning the entire host of the Kurus.
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that true valor and righteousness are shown through steadfastness and loyalty in crisis; abandoning one’s companions in danger is ethically blameworthy, and past conduct can legitimately be cited to challenge present claims of heroism.
The speaker addresses Karṇa and recalls an earlier incident at Dvaitavana where Gandharvas attacked; during that assault, Karṇa is accused of being the first to flee, leaving the Kuru forces behind—used here as a pointed reproach.