Shloka 4
भीष्मकृतः पाण्डवपक्ष-महारथ-प्रशंसा
Bhishma’s appraisal of Pandava-aligned chariot-warriors
परुष: कत्थनो नीच: कर्णो वैकर्तनस्तव । मन्त्री नेता च बन्धुश्न मानी चात्यन्तमुच्छित:,राजन! यह जो तुम्हारा प्रिय सखा कर्ण है, जो तुम्हें पाण्डवोंके साथ युद्धके लिये सदा उत्साहित करता रहता है और रणक्षेत्रमें सदा अपनी क्रूरताका परिचय देता है, बड़ा ही कटुभाषी, आत्मप्रशंसी और नीच है। यह कर्ण तुम्हारा मन्त्री, नेता और बन्धु बना हुआ है। यह अभिमानी तो है ही, तुम्हारा आश्रय पाकर बहुत ऊँचे चढ़ गया है
paruṣaḥ katthano nīcaḥ karṇo vaikartanas tava | mantrī netā ca bandhuś ca mānī cātyantam ucchritaḥ ||
Bhishma said: “Your Karna, Vaikartana, the son of the charioteer, is harsh of speech, boastful, and base in conduct. Yet he has become your minister, your leader, and your kinsman; and being proud, he has risen exceedingly high under your patronage.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma warns that elevating a harsh, boastful, and ethically compromised person to positions of counsel and leadership—especially due to favoritism—corrupts governance and inflames conflict; pride amplified by patronage becomes socially and politically dangerous.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war counsel, Bhishma addresses the Kuru king (Duryodhana) and criticizes Karna’s character and influence, noting that Karna has become Duryodhana’s trusted minister/leader/kinsman and has grown overly exalted through Duryodhana’s support.