Shloka 11
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
कर्ण कर्ण वृथादृष्टे सूतपुत्र वच: शृणु । सदा स्पर्थसि संग्रामे फाल्गुनेन तरस्विना
karṇa karṇa vṛthādṛṣṭe sūtaputra vacaḥ śṛṇu | sadā spardhasi saṅgrāme phālgunena tarasvinā ||
Dijo Sañjaya: «¡Oh Karna—Karna! Tú, cuya mirada se extravía en vano; oh hijo de auriga, escucha mis palabras. Una y otra vez desafías en la guerra al poderoso Phālguna (Arjuna), movido por pura fuerza y destreza.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral warning against prideful, repetitive rivalry: Sanjaya urges Karna to heed counsel and recognize the danger of continually provoking a superior opponent, implying that clear judgment and humility are essential even in a warrior’s duty.
Sanjaya addresses Karna directly, calling him “sūtaputra” and “vṛthādṛṣṭi,” and admonishes him for repeatedly seeking combat with the powerful Phālguna (Arjuna), setting a tone of caution and critique amid the ongoing war narrative.