Shloka 256
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
कर्णश्न॒ रभसो नित्यं राजा त॑ चाप्यनुव्रत: । तात! दुर्योधन उन दिनों शकुनिको बड़ा नीतिज्ञ मानता था तथा वेगशाली वीर कर्ण भी नीतिज्ञ है, ऐसा समझकर राजा दुर्योधन उसका भी भक्त बना रहा
sañjaya uvāca | karṇaś ca rabhaso nityaṃ rājā taṃ cāpy anuvrataḥ | tāta! duryodhanaḥ un dineṣu śakuniko baḍā nītijña mānatā thā tathā vegāśālī vīraḥ karṇo'pi nītijña iti saṃmatya rājā duryodhanaḥ tasya api bhaktaḥ babhūva |
Dijo Sañjaya: Karna era siempre impetuoso y veloz en la acción, y el rey (Duryodhana) permanecía devotamente alineado con él. En aquellos días, querido señor, Duryodhana tenía a Shakuni por muy diestro en el consejo político; y, considerando también al enérgico héroe Karna como conocedor de la política, se hizo asimismo su fiel partidario.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how a ruler’s alliances and decisions can be driven by perceived strategic expertise (nīti) and personal loyalty rather than careful dharmic evaluation; reliance on advisers and ‘policy-knowledge’ without ethical grounding can shape—and distort—royal judgment.
Sanjaya describes Duryodhana’s attitude: he esteems Shakuni as a master of political counsel and, seeing Karna as similarly skilled and powerfully energetic, remains closely devoted to Karna as an ally and supporter during the war context of the Karna Parva.