Shloka 17
कर्णेन सैन्यस्थापनं तथा नानायुद्धसमवायः
Karna Reforms the Host and Multiple Duels Converge
एवं विद्वान् धर्मकथासु राजं- स्तृष्णी भूतो जडवच्छल्य भूय: । त्वं तस्य गोप्ता च जनस्य राजा षड्भागहर्ता शुभदुष्कृतस्य
evaṁ vidvān dharmakathāsu rājaṁs tṛṣṇī-bhūto jaḍavac chalya bhūyaḥ | tvaṁ tasya goptā ca janasya rājā ṣaḍ-bhāga-hartā śubha-duṣkṛtasya ||
Karna berkata: “Walau engkau mengetahui hal ini, wahai raja, dalam pembicaraan tentang dharma engkau kembali duduk membisu, berpaling seperti orang dungu, wahai Śalya. Engkau adalah raja dan pelindung rakyat itu; karena itu engkau pun mengambil seperenam bagian dari kebajikan dan dosa mereka.”
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king is ethically accountable for his realm: by receiving taxes/royal share, he also receives a corresponding share (traditionally one-sixth) of the subjects’ merit and demerit. Therefore, a ruler should not remain indifferent or silent when dharma is at stake.
In the war setting of the Karna Parva, Karna addresses Shalya sharply, reproaching him for staying silent in dharma-related counsel. Karna reminds Shalya of his royal duty as protector and the moral consequences tied to kingship.