Shloka 56
उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४० (कृष्णेन कर्णं प्रति पाण्डवबल-वैशिष्ट्यप्रदर्शनम्) / Udyoga Parva, Chapter 140
Krishna’s appraisal of Pandava advantage and war portents
जनार्दन! जबतक ये पर्वत और सरिताएँ रहेंगी, तबतक इस युद्धकी कीर्ति-कथा अक्षय बनी रहेगी ।।
janārdana! yāvat ime parvatāḥ saritaś ca sthāsyanti tāvat asya yuddhasya kīrti-kathā akṣayā bhaviṣyati. brāhmaṇāḥ kathayiṣyanti mahābhāratam āhavam samāgameṣu vārṣṇeya kṣatriyāṇāṃ yaśodhanam.
Dijo Karna: «¡Oh Janārdana! Mientras perduren estas montañas y estos ríos, la fama y el relato de esta guerra permanecerán imperecederos. ¡Oh Vārṣṇeya! En las asambleas, los brahmanes recitarán esta gran batalla de los Bhārata, suceso que se vuelve un tesoro de renombre para los kṣatriyas».
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how deeds—especially those of public, moral consequence like war—become enduring through collective memory and learned recitation. It frames fame (yaśas) as a lasting ‘wealth’ for Kṣatriyas, preserved by Brahmin narrators in assemblies, suggesting that reputation and legacy outlive physical events.
Karna addresses Kṛṣṇa (Janārdana/Vārṣṇeya), predicting that the coming conflict will become an imperishable epic. He foresees Brahmins recounting the Mahābhārata battle in social gatherings, where the warriors’ renown will be remembered and evaluated.