Shloka 6

Devanagari script

कर्ण उवाच अवनिं प्रमदा गाश्न निवापं बहुवार्षिकम्‌ । तत्‌ ते विप्र प्रदास्यामि न तु वर्म सकुण्डलम्‌,कर्णने कहा--ब्रह्मन! यदि आप घर बनानेके लिये भूमि, गृहस्थी बसानेके लिये सुन्दरी तरुणी स्त्रियाँ, बहुत-सी गौएँ, खेत और बहुत वर्षोतक चालू रहनेवाली जीवनवृत्ति लेना चाहें तो दे दूँगा; परंतु कवच और कुण्डल नहीं दे सकता

Transliteration

Karṇa uvāca: avaniṁ pramadā gāś ca nivāpaṁ bahuvārṣikam | tat te vipra pradāsyāmi na tu varma sakuṇḍalam ||

Translation

Karna said: “O brahmin, I will give you land, lovely young women, and cows, and even a livelihood that will sustain you for many years; all this I shall bestow upon you. But I will not give my armor together with my earrings.”

Word by Word

• {'avaniṁ': 'earth

• ground (as property to be granted)', 'pramadāḥ': 'women

• lovely young women', 'gāḥ': 'cows', 'nivāpam': 'means of subsistence

• livelihood (a continuing allowance/support)', 'bahuvārṣikam': 'lasting many years

• multi-year', 'tat': 'that

• those (items mentioned)', 'te': 'to you', 'vipra': 'brahmin

• learned priest', 'pradāsyāmi': 'I will give

• I shall bestow', 'na': 'not', 'tu': 'but

• however', 'varma': 'armor

• protective cuirass', 'sakuṇḍalam': 'together with the earrings'}

Speaker

कर्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Karṇa
• vipra (brahmin petitioner)
• varma (armor)
• kuṇḍala (earrings)
• land
• women
• cows
• livelihood/provision (nivāpa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical tension between generosity and self-preservation: Karna offers abundant worldly gifts—land, cattle, and long-term support—yet draws a firm boundary at surrendering what he considers essential to his honor and survival (his armor and earrings). It illustrates that even celebrated giving can be constrained by vows, identity, and the demands of impending conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

A brahmin petitioner approaches Karna seeking gifts. Karna responds by offering substantial material wealth and ongoing livelihood, but explicitly refuses to part with his armor and earrings. The moment foreshadows the larger narrative stakes around Karna’s famed generosity and the peril attached to relinquishing his protective insignia.