Shloka 42
कर्णेन सैन्यस्थापनं तथा नानायुद्धसमवायः
Karna Reforms the Host and Multiple Duels Converge
सर्वत्र ब्राह्मणा: सन्ति सन्ति सर्वत्र क्षत्रिया: । वैश्या: शूद्रास्तथा कर्ण स्त्रिय: साध्व्यश्न सुव्रता:,कर्ण! सर्वत्र ब्राह्मण हैं। सब जगह क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र हैं तथा सभी देशोंमें उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाली साध्वी स्त्रियाँ होती हैं
sarvatra brāhmaṇāḥ santi santi sarvatra kṣatriyāḥ | vaiśyāḥ śūdrās tathā karṇa striyaḥ sādhvyaś ca suvratāḥ ||
Śalya said: “O Karṇa, Brahmins are found everywhere; likewise, Kshatriyas are found everywhere. So too are Vaishyas and Shudras; and in every land there are also virtuous women—chaste and steadfast in good vows.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Śalya emphasizes that all human types and virtues are universally present: every region contains Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and also virtuous, vow-keeping women. The ethical thrust is to avoid narrow pride or contempt based on place or group, recognizing the widespread presence of dharma and worthy conduct.
In the Karṇa Parva, Śalya addresses Karṇa in a counsel-like tone. Here he makes a general observation about society across lands, underscoring that noble qualities and established social groups exist everywhere—an admonition meant to shape Karṇa’s attitude and judgment amid the tensions of war.