Shloka 63
Jayadratha Approaches Draupadī in the Forest
Hospitality, Persuasion, and Reproach
स्वसेनया सम्प्रयान्तं नानुयान्ति सम पृष्ठतः । राजन! आप श्रेष्ठ नरेश हैं और अपनी सेनाके साथ वनमें पधारे हैं
svasenayā samprayāntaṃ nānuyānti sama-pṛṣṭhataḥ | rājan! āpa śreṣṭha nareśa haiṃ aura apanī senā ke sātha vana meṃ padhāre haiṃ, aisī daśā meṃ yahāṃ rahanevāle pāṇḍava yadi āpake pīche-pīche na calte—āp kī sahāyatā na karte to yaha unake liye acchī bāta na hotī |
Karna dit : «Quand un roi s’avance avec sa propre armée, ceux qui se trouvent derrière lui ne doivent pas manquer de le suivre à l’arrière. Ô Roi, tu es un souverain éminent et tu es venu dans la forêt avec tes troupes ; en une telle situation, si les Pāṇḍavas qui demeurent ici ne marchaient pas derrière toi et ne t’apportaient pas leur aide, cela ne serait pas convenable pour eux.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Karna frames a norm of royal and martial conduct: when a rightful king advances with his army, those positioned to support him—especially allied or resident kṣatriyas—should follow and assist; failing to do so is ethically improper and politically disloyal.
Karna addresses a king who has come into the forest with troops and argues that the Pāṇḍavas living there ought to have followed behind and helped him; he presents their non-participation as unbecoming, thereby urging expectations of support and alignment.