Shloka 8
Adhyāya 5 (Śānti-parva): Nārada’s account of Karṇa—Jarāsandha encounter and the causal grounds of Karṇa’s fall
साथ ही उसने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक कर्णको अंगदेशकी मालिनी नगरी दे दी। नरश्रेष्ठस शत्रुविजयी कर्ण तभीसे अंगदेशका राजा हो गया था। इसके बाद दुर्योधनकी अनुमतिसे शत्रु-सैन्यसंहारी कर्ण चम्पा नगरी--चम्पारनका भी पालन करने लगा। यह सब तो तुम्हें भी ज्ञात ही है ।।
sātha hī usane prasannatāpūrvakaṁ karṇako aṅgadeśakī mālinī nagarī de dī | naraśreṣṭhaḥ śatravijayī karṇaḥ tabhīse aṅgadeśakā rājā ho gayā | iske bād duryodhanakī anumati se śatru-sainya-saṁhārī karṇaḥ campāṁ nagarīm—campāraṇakā bhī pālana karane lagā | etat sarvaṁ te’pi jñātam eva || evaṁ śastra-pratāpena prathitaḥ so’bhavat kṣitau | tvad-dhitārthaṁ surendreṇa bhikṣito varma-kuṇḍale ||
Nārada said: Duryodhana, pleased, bestowed upon Karṇa the splendid city of Mālinī in the land of Aṅga. From that time the heroic, foe-conquering Karṇa became king of Aṅga. Thereafter, with Duryodhana’s consent, Karṇa—destroyer of enemy hosts—also began to govern the city of Campā (in the Campā region). All this is already known to you. Thus, by the might of his weapons, he became renowned throughout the earth. Then, for your welfare, Indra, lord of the gods, begged from Karṇa his armor and earrings.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how worldly honor and political power (a kingdom, fame through arms) coexist with ethical tests: Karṇa’s celebrated generosity becomes the very point through which Indra seeks to weaken him ‘for your welfare.’ It frames dharma as being tested not only in battle but also in the moral weight of giving, intention, and consequence.
Nārada recounts that Duryodhana, pleased with Karṇa, made him king of Aṅga by granting Mālinī and later allowed him to govern Campā as well. Karṇa’s martial prowess made him famous across the earth. Then Indra approaches Karṇa and asks for his natural armor and earrings, setting up the well-known episode where Karṇa’s gifts affect the balance of power.