Shloka 38
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 68 — Pāṇḍavānāṃ Vanavāsa-prasthānaḥ; Duḥśāsana-nindā; Pāṇḍava-pratijñāḥ
दुःशासन सुबालो<यं विकर्ण: प्राज्ञवादिक: । पाण्डवानां च वासांसि द्रौपद्याश्चाप्युपाहर,दुःशासन! यह विकर्ण अत्यन्त मूढ़ है, तथापि विद्वानोंकी-सी बातें बनाता है। तुम पाण्डवोंके और द्रौपदीके भी वस्त्र उतार लो
duḥśāsana subālo ’yaṃ vikarṇaḥ prājñavādikaḥ | pāṇḍavānāṃ ca vāsāṃsi draupadyāś cāpy upāhara ||
Karna said: “Duḥśāsana, this Vikarna is a mere boy—yet he speaks as though he were wise. Go, bring and strip away the garments of the Pāṇḍavas, and of Draupadī as well.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how contemptuous speech and the misuse of authority can accelerate adharma: instead of heeding a principled objection (Vikarna’s), Karna derides it and urges an act of public humiliation, showing how moral collapse in a court begins with rejecting ethical counsel.
In the Kuru assembly during the dice-game crisis, Vikarna has spoken in defense of dharma. Karna responds by mocking Vikarna as an immature ‘wise-talker’ and instructs Duhshasana to seize/bring the garments of the Pandavas and Draupadi—an escalation toward Draupadi’s attempted disrobing.