Shloka 17
तस्माद् विनिमयं कृत्वा कुण्डले वर्म चोत्तमम् | हरस्व शक्र काम॑ मे न दद्यामहमन्यथा,“इन्द्रदेव! यदि मैं आपको अपने दोनों कुण्डल और कवच दे दूँगा तो मैं तो शत्रुओंका वध्य हो जाऊँगा और संसारमें आपकी हँसी होगी। इसलिये (कर्णने सूर्यकी आज्ञाको याद करके कहा--) शक्र! आप कुछ बदला देकर इच्छानुसार मेरे कुण्डल और उत्तम कवच ले जाइये; अन्यथा मैं इन्हें नहीं दे सकता'
tasmād vinimayaṃ kṛtvā kuṇḍale varma cottamam | harasva śakra kāmaṃ me na dadyām aham anyathā ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Therefore, make an exchange and take away, O Śakra, my earrings and this excellent armor as you desire; otherwise I will not give them.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when generosity is praised, dharma also recognizes prudence and reciprocity: a gift that destroys one’s rightful capacity to live and act may be moderated by seeking a fair exchange, preserving honor without enabling exploitation.
Indra (addressed as Śakra) seeks Karṇa’s divine earrings and armor. Karṇa agrees only on the condition of a vinimaya—an exchange—inviting Indra to take them after granting something in return; otherwise, he refuses.