Shloka 45

उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140

Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents

Devanagari script

यदब्रुवमहं कृष्ण कटुकानि सम पाण्डवान्‌ | प्रियार्थ धार्तराष्ट्रस्य तेन तप्ये हुकर्मणा,श्रीकृष्ण! मैंने जो धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधनका प्रिय करनेके लिये पाण्डवोंको बहुत-से कटुवचन सुनाये हैं, उस अयोग्य कर्मके कारण आज मुझे बड़ा पश्चात्ताप हो रहा है

Transliteration

yad abruvam ahaṁ kṛṣṇa kaṭukāni sama-pāṇḍavān | priyārthaṁ dhārtarāṣṭrasya tena tapye hy akarmaṇā ||

Translation

Karna said: “O Krishna, for the sake of pleasing Dhritarashtra’s son, I once hurled many harsh words at the Pandavas. Today I burn with remorse because of that unworthy deed.”

Word by Word

• {'yad': 'that which

• whatever', 'abruvam': 'I spoke

• I said (1st person imperfect)', 'aham': 'I', 'kṛṣṇa': 'Krishna (addressed as the listener)', 'kaṭukāni': 'harsh, bitter (words)

• cruel remarks', 'sama-pāṇḍavān': 'towards/against the Pandavas (with reference to them)', 'priyārtham': 'for the sake of what is pleasing

• to gratify', 'dhārtarāṣṭrasya': 'of Dhritarashtra’s son (i.e., Duryodhana)', 'tena': 'by that

• because of that', 'tapye': 'I am tormented

• I burn (with regret)', 'hi': 'indeed', 'akarmaṇā': 'by an improper act

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karna
• Krishna
• Pandavas
• Duryodhana (Dhritarashtra’s son)
• Dhritarashtra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights ethical responsibility in speech: words spoken to please power or allies can become a moral burden. Karna recognizes that gratifying Duryodhana through harsh speech against the Pandavas was an unworthy action, and he experiences the inner consequence—remorse.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war negotiations and reflections, Karna addresses Krishna and confesses regret for earlier bitter words he spoke against the Pandavas to win Duryodhana’s favor, indicating a moment of self-judgment amid the approaching conflict.