Shloka 236
Jayadratha Approaches Draupadī in the Forest
Hospitality, Persuasion, and Reproach
अज्ञातैर्यदि वा ज्ञातै: कर्तव्यं नूपते: प्रियम् | कुरुश्रेष्ठ॒ जो राजकीय सेनामें रहकर जीविका चलाते हैं तथा राजाके राज्यमें निवास करते हैं
ajñātair yadi vā jñātaiḥ kartavyaṃ nṛpateḥ priyam | kuruśreṣṭha ye rājikī-senāyāṃ sthitvā jīvikāṃ calayanti tathā rājñaḥ rājyamadhye nivasanti, te jñātā vā ajñātā vā; teṣāṃ kartavyaṃ yat sadā rājñaḥ priyam ācaret ||
Karna dit : «Qu’on soit connu ou inconnu, celui qui vit en servant dans les troupes du roi et demeure dans le royaume doit accomplir ce qui plaît au souverain. De tels hommes, ô le meilleur des Kuru, sont liés par le devoir d’agir de manière à maintenir la faveur du roi et l’ordre du royaume.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Those who earn their livelihood under royal protection—especially within the king’s army and territory—incur an obligation of rājadharma: to act in ways that support the ruler and preserve the stability of the realm, regardless of personal fame or anonymity.
Karna is articulating a principle of political and social duty: subjects and soldiers living within a king’s domain should maintain conduct that pleases and supports the king, framing loyalty as a normative obligation tied to residence and livelihood.