Shloka 161
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
सर्वथा न हायं शल्य कर्ण: सूतकुलोद्धव: । सकुण्डलं सकवचं दीर्घबाहुं महारथम्
sarvathā na hāyaṃ śalya karṇaḥ sūtakulodbhavaḥ | sakuṇḍalaṃ sakavacaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahāratham ||
दुर्योधन ने कहा—“हे शल्य! यह कर्ण किसी भी प्रकार सूतकुल से उत्पन्न नहीं है। कुण्डल और कवच से विभूषित, दीर्घबाहु, और महारथी—यह तो अग्रगण्य वीर है।”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between birth-based social labeling and demonstrated excellence: Duryodhana insists that Karṇa should not be diminished as merely “sūta-born,” emphasizing merit, heroic qualities, and martial stature as grounds for honor.
In the Karṇa Parva context, Duryodhana addresses Śalya (Karṇa’s charioteer) to defend and elevate Karṇa’s standing, describing him as a fully equipped, long-armed mahāratha—countering disparagement rooted in Karṇa’s supposed low birth.