कर्णेन सैन्यस्थापनं तथा नानायुद्धसमवायः
Karna Reforms the Host and Multiple Duels Converge
सती पुरा हृता काचिदारट्टात् किल दस्युभि: । अधर्मतश्नोपयाता सा तानभ्यशपत् ततः
satī purā hṛtā kācid āraṭṭāt kila dasyubhiḥ | adharmataś copayātā sā tān abhyśapat tataḥ |
Dikisahkan bahwa dahulu kala seorang wanita suci diculik dari negeri Āraṭṭa oleh para perampok. Setelah mereka menodainya dengan paksaan yang adharma, ia pun melontarkan kutuk kepada mereka.
कर्ण उवाच
The verse frames sexual violence and abduction as adharma and introduces the moral logic that grievous wrongdoing invites a corresponding consequence—here, a curse—underscoring accountability beyond immediate power.
Karna begins an illustrative tale: bandits abduct a chaste woman from Āraṭṭa and violate her; in response, she utters a curse against them, setting up the outcome that will follow in subsequent verses.