Shloka 10
यत् त्वया मर्षितं पूर्व तदशक्तेन मर्षितम् । इतो गृह्नीमहे पार्थ तव दृष्टवा पराक्रमम्,पार्थ! तेरा यह जबानी पराक्रम देखकर तो हम इसी परिणामपर पहुँचते हैं कि तूने पहले जो कुछ सहन किया है, वह अपनी असमर्थताके ही कारण किया है
yat tvayā marṣitaṁ pūrvaṁ tad aśaktena marṣitam | ito gṛhnīmahe pārtha tava dṛṣṭvā parākramam ||
Karna said: “Whatever you endured earlier, you endured only because you lacked the power to respond. Now, O Partha, having witnessed your prowess, we conclude this: your former forbearance was not chosen restraint, but helplessness.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts true forbearance (kṣamā as a deliberate ethical choice) with mere endurance born of incapacity. Karna weaponizes this distinction to deny Arjuna moral credit for past restraint, implying that honor in a warrior context depends on demonstrated power and intention, not just outward patience.
In the Virata Parva battle context, Karna addresses Arjuna (Partha) after seeing his martial prowess. He taunts him by claiming that Arjuna’s earlier toleration of insults or injuries was not noble restraint but helplessness, thereby provoking him and asserting a warrior’s standard of reputation through visible valor.