Shloka 41
कर्णश्र निहतः संख्ये तव शीलानुवर्तक: । भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण बोले--गान्धारीनन्दन! तुमने पापके रास्तेपर पैर रखा था; इसीलिये तुम भाई, पुत्र, बान्धव, सेवक और सुहृद्गणोंसहित मारे गये हो। वीर भीष्म और द्रोणाचार्य तुम्हारे दुष्कर्मोंस ही मारे गये हैं। कर्ण भी तुम्हारे स्वभावका ही अनुसरण करनेवाला था; इसलिये युद्धमें मारा गया || ३९-४० $ || याच्यमानं मया मूढ पित्र्यमंशं न दित्ससि
karṇaś ca nihataḥ saṅkhye tava śīlānuvartakaḥ | yācyamānaṃ mayā mūḍha pitryam aṃśaṃ na ditsasi ||
Vāyu said: “Karna too has been slain in the battle, for he followed your very disposition. And you—deluded as you are—though entreated by me, you would not grant the paternal share that was due.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s moral choices shape outcomes: refusing a rightful paternal share and persisting in delusion (moha) leads to ruin, and even great allies like Karna fall when they align themselves with an unrighteous disposition.
Vāyu addresses a Kaurava figure in a reproachful tone, stating that Karna has been killed in the war because he followed the addressee’s character, and condemning the addressee for refusing—despite entreaty—to grant the legitimate paternal portion (inheritance/kingdom share).