Shloka 39
ततः शक्र: प्रहसन् वज्चयित्वा कर्ण लोके यशसा योजयित्वा । कृतं कार्य पाण्डवानां हि मेने ततः पश्चाद् दिवमेवोत्पपात,इस प्रकार कर्णको (कवच और कुण्डलसे) वंचित करके एवं संसारमें उसका सुयश फैलाकर देवराज इन्द्र हँसते हुए स्वर्गलोकको चले गये। उन्हें मन-ही-मन यह विश्वास हो गया कि “मैंने पाण्डवोंका कार्य पूरा कर दिया”
tataḥ śakraḥ prahasan vañcayitvā karṇaṃ loke yaśasā yojayitvā | kṛtaṃ kāryaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ hi mene tataḥ paścād divam evotpapāta ||
Then Śakra (Indra), smiling, having by stratagem deprived Karṇa of his armor and earrings, yet still linking him with fame in the world, thought to himself, “The Pāṇḍavas’ purpose is accomplished.” After that he rose up and returned to heaven.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse juxtaposes expedient strategy with moral accountability: even a divine agent may employ deception to protect a perceived righteous cause (the Pāṇḍavas), yet the text also preserves Karṇa’s dignity through enduring fame—suggesting that ethical evaluation must consider both means (upāya) and the recognition of virtue (yaśas) in the one who is wronged.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates that Indra, having successfully obtained (by stratagem) Karṇa’s natural armor and earrings—thereby weakening him—then departs to heaven, convinced that he has secured the Pāṇḍavas’ objective. At the same time, Karṇa’s reputation is said to be established in the world, emphasizing that his renown survives the loss.