Shloka 436
Adhyāya 10: Śrutakarmā’s Engagements; Prativindhya–Citra Duel; Drauṇi Advances toward Bhīma
दुर्योधनमुखा राजन् राजानो विजयैषिण: । जैसे देवताओंने स्कन्दको सेनापति बनाकर उनका सत्कार किया था
sañjaya uvāca |
duryodhana-mukhā rājan rājāno vijayaiṣiṇaḥ |
yathā devatābhiḥ skandaḥ senāpatiḥ kṛtvā satkṛtaḥ, tathā sarve kauravāḥ karṇaṃ senāpatiṃ kṛtvā tasya satkārāya udyatāḥ |
rājan vijayābhilāṣiṇo duryodhanādayo rājānaḥ śāstroktavidhinā karṇasyābhiṣekaṃ cakruḥ |
संजय बोले—राजन्! विजय की अभिलाषा रखने वाले दुर्योधन आदि समस्त राजाओं ने कर्ण को सेनापति बनाकर उसका सत्कार करने की तैयारी की; जैसे देवताओं ने स्कन्द को सेनापति बनाकर उसका सम्मान किया था। तत्पश्चात् दुर्योधन आदि ने शास्त्रोक्त विधि से कर्ण का अभिषेक किया।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how political-military authority is publicly legitimized through ritual and collective recognition. It also suggests an ethical tension: the pursuit of victory (vijaya) can drive leaders to elevate a champion through formal rites, even when the broader war itself is morally fraught.
After Bhishma’s fall, the Kaurava side installs Karna as commander-in-chief. Duryodhana and allied kings honor him and perform his formal consecration (abhiṣeka) according to scriptural procedure, likening the event to the gods appointing Skanda as their general.