Shloka 31
Karna Reproves Shalya; Brahmin Reports on Bāhlīkas; Shalya’s Universalizing Rebuttal (कर्ण–शल्य संवादः)
उक्तो5सि बहुधा राजन् मा युध्यस्वेति पापडवै: । गृह्नीषे न च तनन््मोहाद् वचनं च विशाम्पते
ukto ’si bahudhā rājan mā yudhyasveti pāṇḍavaiḥ | gṛhṇīṣe na ca tan-mohād vacanaṃ ca viśāṃpate ||
संजय बोले—राजन्! पाण्डवों ने आपको बार-बार कहा था—“युद्ध मत छेड़िए।” परन्तु प्रजानाथ! आपने मोहवश उनकी सम्मति स्वीकार नहीं की।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Repeated wise counsel, even when clearly offered, becomes fruitless if a ruler is overcome by moha (delusion). The verse highlights ethical accountability in leadership: refusing peace-oriented advice leads toward avoidable destruction.
Sañjaya addresses the king in the Karṇa–Duryodhana conversation, reminding him that the Pāṇḍavas repeatedly urged him not to initiate war, but he rejected their words due to delusion.