Shloka 26
मावमंस्था महाबाहो कर्णममाहवशोभिनम् | पाण्डुनन्दन! तो भी जो बात तुम्हारे लिये हितकर हो, उसे बता देना मैं आवश्यक समझता हूँ। महाबाहो! संग्राममें शोभा पानेवाले कर्णकी अवहेलना न करना ।। कर्णो हि बलवान दृप्तः कृतास्त्रश्न महारथ:,प्रयाहि शीघ्र॑ गोविन्द सूतपुत्रजिघांसया । “गोविन्द! अब मेरा रथ तैयार हो। उसमें पुनः उत्तम घोड़े जोते जायँ और मेरे उस विशाल रथमें सब प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्र सजाकर रख दिये जायाँ। अअभ्वारोहियोंद्वारा सिखलाये और टहलाये गये घोड़े रथसम्बन्धी उपकरणोंसे सुसज्जित हो शीघ्र यहाँ आवें और आप सूतपुत्रके वधकी इच्छासे जल्दी ही यहाँसे प्रस्थान कीजिये”
sañjaya uvāca |
māvamam̐sthā mahābāho karṇam āhavāśobhinam |
pāṇḍunandana! to bhī jo bāt tumhāre liye hitakara ho, use batā denā maiṁ āvaśyak samajhatā hūṁ |
mahābāho! saṅgrāmeṁ śobhā pānevāle karṇa kī avahēlanā na karanā ||
karṇo hi balavān dṛptaḥ kṛtāstrajñaḥ mahārathaḥ, prayāhi śīghraṁ govinda sūtaputra-jighāṁsayā |
“govinda! ab merā ratha taiyār ho. usmeṁ punaḥ uttama ghoṛe jote jāyāṁ aur mere us viśāl rathmeṁ sab prakār ke astra-śastra sajākar rakh diye jāyāṁ. aśvārōhiyoṁ dvārā sikhāye aur ṭahalāye gaye ghoṛe ratha-sambandhī upakaraṇoṁ se susajjit ho śīghra yahāṁ āveṁ aur āp sūtaputra ke vadh kī icchā se jaldī hī yahāṁ se prasthān kījiye”
Sañjaya said: “O mighty-armed one, do not belittle Karna, the ornament of battle. O son of Pandu, I consider it necessary to tell you what is truly for your good: do not treat with contempt Karna, who shines in war. For Karna is powerful, proud, a master of weapons, and a great chariot-warrior. Go quickly, O Govinda, with the resolve to slay the charioteer’s son.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a righteous war, arrogance and contempt are ethical and strategic faults. Sanjaya urges Arjuna to respect Karna’s prowess, remain vigilant, and act with disciplined resolve rather than underestimating a formidable opponent.
Sanjaya reports counsel directed to Arjuna: do not slight Karna, who is strong and highly skilled. The scene then turns to immediate war-preparation—Krishna (Govinda) is told to ready the chariot, yoke the best horses, arrange weapons, and depart swiftly with the aim of confronting and killing Karna.