Shloka 11
अध्याय १५ (Āśramavāsika-parva): धृतराष्ट्रस्य वनवासानुज्ञायाचनम् — Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s renewed plea for consent to forest-dwelling
कर्ण स्मरेथा: सतत संग्रामेष्वपलायिनम् । अवकीरण्णो हि समरे वीरो दुष्प्रज्ञया तदा
karṇaṃ smarethāḥ satataṃ saṅgrāmeṣv apalāyinam | avakīrṇo hi samare vīro duṣprajñayā tadā ||
«Recuerda siempre a tu hermano Karṇa, que jamás dio la espalda en la batalla. Pues aquel héroe cayó en el combate por mi propio mal juicio de entonces.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral accountability: even in a world shaped by fate and war, one must acknowledge one’s own flawed judgment (duṣprajñā) as a cause of another’s downfall, and honor steadfast courage by remembering it.
Vaishampayana reports an instruction to keep Karna in constant remembrance—specifically as a warrior who never fled from battle—while also expressing remorse that Karna was slain in combat due to the speaker’s own mistaken counsel or decision.