Shloka 3
जयद्रथ-निग्रहः — Jayadratha Restrained, Shamed, and Released
तवाद्य पृथिवी वीर नि:ःसपत्ना नृपोत्तम | तां पालय यथा शक्रो हतशत्रुर्महामना:
tvādya pṛthivī vīra niḥsapatnā nṛpottama | tāṁ pālaya yathā śakro hataśatrur mahāmanāḥ ||
Karna dit : «Aujourd’hui, ô héros, ô meilleur des rois, la terre se tient pour toi sans prétendant rival. Gouverne-la donc et protège-la comme Indra au grand cœur, qui, après avoir terrassé ses ennemis, veille sur les mondes ; ainsi toi aussi dois-tu soutenir ce royaume, sûr et sans opposition.»
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power gained through victory is not an end in itself; it creates a duty of protection. The verse frames kingship as pālana—sustaining order and welfare—modeled on Indra, who after defeating foes is expected to safeguard the world.
Karna addresses a ruler as the uncontested master of the earth and urges him to rule responsibly. He uses Indra (Śakra) as a paradigm: after subduing enemies, the rightful task is to maintain and protect the realm.