कर्णेन सैन्यस्थापनं तथा नानायुद्धसमवायः
Karna Reforms the Host and Multiple Duels Converge
“उस देशमें मैंने इस प्रकार धर्मसंकरता फैलानेवाली बातें सुनीं। सारी पृथ्वीमें घूमकर केवल बाहीक देशमें ही मुझे धर्मके विपरीत आचार-व्यवहार दिखायी दिया” ।।
hanta śalya vijānīhi, hanta bhūyo bravīmi te | yad apy anyo ’bravīd vākyaṃ vāhīkānāṃ ca kutsitam ||
Dengarlah, Śalya, pahamilah; aku akan berkata lagi kepadamu. Dengarkan pula kabar keji yang pernah dituturkan seorang pengembara lain tentang kaum Vāhīka.
कर्ण उवाच
The verse highlights how moral judgment is advanced through reported speech: Karna appeals to ‘dharma’ by presenting testimony (a traveler’s report) as evidence of conduct he deems contrary to righteous norms, urging Shalya to recognize and reject such adharma.
During the Karna–Shalya exchange, Karna continues a denunciation of the Vahika region and its customs. He calls Shalya’s attention and says he will add more, introducing an additional account attributed to another traveler describing the Vahikas in contemptuous terms.