Shloka 893
पाप: पापवच: कर्ण: शृण्वतस्तव भारत | “भारत! उस समय अधर्मका ही ज्ञान रखनेवाले परम दुर्बुद्धि पापी कर्णने तुम्हारे सुनते हुए ऐसे-ऐसे पापपूर्ण वचन कहे थे
pāpaḥ pāpavacaḥ karṇaḥ śṛṇvatas tava bhārata |
Sañjaya said: O Bhārata, while you were listening, Karṇa—sinful in conduct and speaking sinful words—uttered many wicked statements, revealing a mind trained in adharma rather than in righteousness.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech is ethically consequential: words rooted in adharma reveal and reinforce inner corruption. The verse frames Karṇa’s utterances as morally tainted, warning that unrighteous understanding expresses itself through harmful, sinful speech.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as Bhārata) that Karṇa, in Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s hearing, spoke grievous and sinful words—setting the tone for Karṇa’s harsh rhetoric and the moral critique of his stance in the war context.